CHINA Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) says it has paid, in full, all sub-contractors of the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP).

Yesterday, in a statement responding to allegations made at last week’s meeting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) and published in yesterday Observer, CHEC said that it has fully paid the subcontractors in a timely manner.

CHEC also said that it will seek to meet with the National Works Agency (NWA), “with a view of examining whether there is any scope for the shortening of the process that must be complied with, prior to the making of payments, without compromising the quality and integrity of the works being performed under the JDIP.

In yesterday’s story, Parliament’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) Chairman Edmund Bartlett threatened to summon CHEC to explain delays in payment to local sub-contractors involved in the JDIP.

Said CHEC: “Under JDIP, the National Works Agency is to make payments to CHEC for works carried out. In all cases, that payments have been received from the NWA and CHEC has used subcontractors to assist in the performance of the works, CHEC has fully paid all such subcontractors in a timely manner. CHEC has never represented to the subcontractors or any entity or individual that the company is unable to meet its payment obligations.

Specifically, CHEC has paid, in full, all subcontractors covered by the 16 payment certificates made by the NWA, to CHEC, for the period ending December 2012.”

CHEC said, however, that it was not responsible for the payments to be made by subcontractors to their employees, agents or workmen, but said it sincerely hoped that all such personnel have, in turn, received all payments due.

In the meantime, CHEC said it would be seeking a meeting with the NWA to examine whether there is any scope for the shortening of the process that must be complied with prior to the making of payments, without compromising the quality and integrity of the works being performed under the JDIP and CHEC’s commitment to deliver the best value for money to the people of Jamaica.