By way of letter, which was dated April 14, 2008, Parliament disclosed the following particulars of eleven (11) Exemption Motions to the Contractor General.

Exemption Motions approved for Senators

Senators                                             Date of Exemption Motion

Senator Mark Golding                          November 30 and December 14, 2007      Motion approved

Senator Noel Sloley                              November 30, 2007                                  Motion approved

Senator Norman Grant                         November 30, 2007                                   Motion approved

Senator Ian Murray                              November 30, 2007                                   Motion approved

Senator Dr. the Hon. Oswald               February 22, 2008                                      Motion approved

Harding OJ, CD, QC               

Exemption Motions approved for Members of the House of Representatives:

Parliamentarians                               Date Exemption Motion was moved

Mr. Ernest Smith                                  January 22, 2008         Motion was eventually approved

Mrs. Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert           January 22, 2008         Motion was eventually approved

Mr. Tarn Peralto                                  January 22, 2008         Motion was eventually approved

Mr. Desmond Mair                              January 22, 2008         Motion was eventually approved

Rev. Ronald Thwaites                          January 29, 2008         Motion was eventually approved

The following Exemption Motions were moved in the Honourable Senate:

Senator Mark Golding

On November 30, 2007, the Honourable Senate approved an Exemption Motion in relation to Senator Mark Golding. “Senator Mark Golding is a partner in the law firm Hart, Muirhead and Fatta and a director of Jamaica International Insurance Company Limited, Caribbean Information & Credit Rating Services Limited, Mona Rehabilitation Foundation and Monex Limited, which may from time to time enter into contracts with the Government of Jamaica and its affiliated agencies”.

An Exemption Motion was also approved in relation to Senator Mark Golding on December 14, 2007, in light of his subsequent appointment to the Board of Directors of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited. The “…aforementioned company of which he is a director may from time to time enter into contracts with the Government of Jamaica and its affiliated agencies”.                           

Senator Noel Sloley                                

On November 30, 2007, the Honourable Senate approved an Exemption Motion in relation to Senator Noel Sloley. “Senator Noel Sloley is a director of Jamaica Tours Limited and Car Rentals, Estate Tours Limited, Discover Jamaica Tours Limited, Preferred Tours Limited, Rutland Point Development Limited, and Lisport Realty Limited, which from time to time enter into contracts with the Government of Jamaica and its affiliated agencies, to provide services having to do with transportation and real estate”.

Senator Norman Grant                              

On November 30, 2007, the Honourable Senate approved an Exemption Motion in relation to Senator Norman Grant. “Senator Norman Grant is a director and President of the Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS), which from time to time enters into contracts with the Government of Jamaica and its affiliated agencies”.                              

Senator Ian Murray

On November 30, 2007, the Honourable Senate approved an Exemption Motion in relation to Senator Ian Murray. “Senator Ian Murray is a director and shareholder of Sanitary Removal Limited, which from time to time enter into contracts with the Government of Jamaica and its affiliated agencies, to provide services having to do with Corporate Hygiene and Waste Removal.”

Senator Dr. the Hon. Oswald Harding O.J., C.D., Q.C.  

On February 22, 2008, the Honourable Senate approved an Exemption Motion in relation to Dr. the Honourable Oswald Harding, O.J., C.D., Q.C., President of the Senate. “Dr. the Honourable Oswald Harding…is a partner in the law firm O.G. Harding & Company and a principal of Gimlin Limited and Osshard Limited… Dr. Harding, as the principal of Gimlin Limited is a party to contract with the University of Technology…Dr. Harding in his own capacity, as a partner in the law firm O.G. Harding & Company, or as the principal of Gimlin Limited or Osshard Limited, may from time to time enter into contracts with the Government of Jamaica and its affiliated agencies to provide services”.

The Exemption Motion does not disclose the value or any further details of the subject contract between Gimlin Limited and the University of Technology.

The following Exemption Motions were moved by the Leader of the House, in the House of Representatives, on January 22, 2008:

Mr. Ernest Smith, M.P.

An Exemption Motion in relation to the Member of Parliament for St. Ann South Western, Mr. Ernest Smith, who “…is a partner in the firm of Ernest A. Smith & Company, Attorneys-at-Law, which from time to time enters into contracts with the Government of Jamaica and its affiliated agencies to provide legal services”.

Mrs. Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, M.P.           

An Exemption Motion in relation to the Member of Parliament for Trelawny Southern, Mrs. Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert who “… is a partner in the firm of Grayson & Company, which from time to time enters into contracts with the Government of Jamaica and its affiliated agencies to provide legal services”.           

Mr. Tarn Paralto, M.P.

An Exemption Motion in relation to the Member of Parliament for St. Mary South Eastern , Mr. Tarn Paralto who “… is an associate in the firm Davidson and Hanna, which from time to time enters into contracts with the Government of Jamaica and its affiliated agencies to provide professional services”.

Mr. Desmond Mair, M.P.

An Exemption Motion in relation to the Member of Parliament for St. Catherine North Eastern, Mr. Desmond Mair, who “… is a partner in the firm of Desmond Mair Insurance Brokers, which may from time to time enter into contracts with the Government of Jamaica and its affiliated agencies to provide insurance services”.

The following Exemption Motion was moved by the Leader of the House, in the House of Representatives, on January 29, 2008:

Rev. Ronald Thwaites, M.P.           

An Exemption Motion in relation to the Member of Parliament for Kingston Central, Rev. Ronald Thwaites, who “… is a partner in the firm of Daly, Thwaites and Company, which from time to time enters into contracts with the Government of Jamaica and its affiliated agencies to provide legal services”.

The Ethics Committee on March 12, 2008, recommended that the Exemption Motions brought on behalf of Mr. Ernest Smith, Mrs. Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, Mr. Tarn Paralto, Mr. Desmond Mair and Rev. Ronald Thwaites, be approved. However, the Committee recommended that, “… in the future, Members who desire to enter into contracts with the Government should appear before the Committee to allow discussion on the nature of the contract.”

The Committee further indicated that “…where Members enter into contracts with the Government those members should be required to report to the Parliament, specifically, the Speaker of the House on a semi-annual basis. Additionally the Member should be required to state general information about the nature of the contract or contracts, which he or she has entered into following the Committee’s approval, so that the matter can be considered.”        

The Committee also recommended that “… the exemption motions be amended so that there would be a restriction to a specific contract.”