Procurement Breaches At Gov’t Owned Melia Braco Hotel

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is seemingly in for more work following the full report of 2018 audit findings into the operations of the Melia Braco Village Hotel in St. James. Melia Braco is owned by the government. But the report has uncovered numerous procurement breaches, outstanding documents for projects and service providers. 

An audit was conducted to review the operations, payments and controls implemented by the national insurance fund resort management company limited which manages the Melia Braco Village Hotel in Montego Bay, St. James.

But the findings reveal that there were several procurement breaches at the hotel and several more outstanding documents for payments made and contracts.

Of concern is the contract for Kronos Investment Developers which was selected to be the exclusive advisor to the national insurance fund.

According to the audit, for the period November 15, 2012, to December 22, 2014, almost half a million USD was paid to Kronos, of this amount five payments totaling us$255,729.94 related to professional fees.

Some of the invoices referred to project coordination however no document was presented that indicated the contractual arrangement was extended to project management.