Headlines:
| Kern Spencer buckles under pressure |
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| Friday, 15 February 2008 | |
Embattled Member of Parliament (MP) for North East St.
Elizabeth Kern Spencer has taken leave of absence from the House of Representatives.
The former Junior Energy Minister requested leave from the House during a meeting with senior officers of the People's National Party (PNP) on Thursday February 14th. The development comes just five months after Mr. Spencer first took his seat in Gordon House. The North East St. Elizabeth MP was summoned to the Party's Old Hope Road Headquarters after the officers received the recommendations of the Internal Affairs Commission. After the meeting, Mr. Spencer offered to take leave of absence. He will also take leave from all leadership positions he holds in the Party. A statement from the PNP said the Officers accepted Mr. Spencer's offer which was consistent with the recommendations of the Internal Affairs Commission. For nearly four months, Mr. Spencer has been at the centre of a scandal involving the Cuban Light Bulb Project. Things came to a head last week following the release of the Contractor-General's Report. The Contractor-General accused Mr. Spencer of unwarranted and improper ministerial intervention in the procurement process. The report said several of the contractors were handpicked and engaged directly by Mr. Spencer. Among the persons contracted was the mother of one of his children and the grandmother of one of the children. Copies of the 124-page report have been sent to the Police Commissioner, Director of Public Prosecutions, the Commissioner for the Prevention of Corruption, the Attorney General and the Auditor General. Earlier this week, current Energy Minister Clive Mullings called for Mr. Spencer to be suspended from Parliament. |