Kern grilled - Police question former junior minister about Cuban project

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Topic: Kern grilled - Police question former junior minister about Cuban project

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Date: 06:35 02/22 2008

Kern grilled - Police question former junior minister about Cuban project

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AFTER MORE than two hours of interrogation by Fraud Squad detectives yesterday, Kern Spencer, the former junior minister in the previous People's National Party (PNP) administration, emerged with a half pack of Oreo cookies in his hand and a peach-flavoured Tampico soda. He haltingly told journalists that he does not fear prosecution.Spencer, who is at the centre of a criminal investigation, responded "no" yesterday when asked whether he was concerned about the possibility of prosecution.The 33-year-old Spencer applied for leave of absence as member of parliament (MP) for North East St Elizabeth last week, amid mounting pressure for him to step aside. He has been implicated in a criminal probe to determine how contracts were issued in the distribution of free Cuba light bulbs. The project, which chalked up a $276-million bill, ran for 18 months and ended just before the September 3 general election last year.

Uttered only a few words

Yesterday Spencer, who had wept openly in Parliament when revelations of possible fraud were made by Energy Minister Clive Mullings in November, seemed uncomfortable as camera lenses and tape recorders moved in on him.The former senator, People's National Party Youth Organisation president and University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, guild president, who has never failed to speak his mind, uttered only a few words as he left the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). He had just beenquizzed by a team of senior detectives about his role in the light bulb project.The energy-saving project, which involved the replacement of the less efficient incandescent bulb with more than four million energy- saving ones from Cuba, cost more than $276 million to implement. Spencer was the state minister in the energy ministry led by Phillip Paulwell. He was given full responsibility for the project.Soon after the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) won the September 3 elections, new Energy Minister Clive Mullings said there were serious questions about the implementation of the project.In a subsequent investigation, Contractor General Greg Christie said Spencer flouted the law by hand-picking the contractors - his friend Rodney Chin and the grandmother of his child, Verdie Mair. One of his children's mothers, Sherine Shakes, was also involved in the project as chief principal for Universal Management and Development Company Chin's company which distributed the bulbs.

Totally surprised

Yesterday, journalists camped outside the OCID head office on Orange Street, downtown Kingston, where Spencer was being questioned by a team led by Superintendent of Police Fitz Bailey.The embattled politician, though, looked totally surprised when he and his attorney, Deborah Martin, attempted to exit the building and found journalists waiting. In a flash, Spencer retreated from the door. He apparently devised a plan with Martin who later left the building for her SUV.Martin circled the block and returned in seven minutes. The idea was to get Spencer into the vehicle without journalists getting to him. That failed. As soon as Spencer made his way towards the vehicle, he was hounded and could not avoid responding to a few questions."I am not commenting," he said when asked how he felt about the interview.Spencer, however, said that he "cooperated with them (police) fully". He also said that he "just came to a routine interview".When asked, Bailey, the inves-tigating officer, would only say the police and Spencer had come to a "mutual agreement to continue (the interview) at a later date". Karl Angell, meanwhile, the director of communications at the JCF, said that reports of a stop order against Spencer were false.Spencer's party has said they consider the allegations against him "very serious". Yesterday, PNP General Secretary Peter Bunting said there was not much the party could say now that an investigation was under way. He, however, added that "the chips must fall where they may".

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