Former DBJ director Aubyn Hill, and former chairman, Dr Carlton Davis, along with former board members, were criticised by Christie for sanctioning the lease of a property, managed by DBJ, to a company owned by Hill.

The property, located at 51 St Lucia Avenue, was leased to Hill's company, NationGrowth Micro-Finance Limited, following a specially convened meeting on August 31 last year.

During the meeting, Hill was allowed to make a presentation concerning a DBJ business proposal in which he had a personal interest, states the report, which was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

Disregarding protests

The agreement was inked with Hill's company shortly after, Christie said, in spite of protests and concerns raised to Davis by some board members.

"However, despite these protestations and/or concerns, some of which were made after Mr Hill ... left the meeting, Dr Davis expressed the opinion, inter alia, in Mr Hill's presence, that 'the board should take a decision in principle' in respect of the matter. The chairman's wishes were eventually satisfied," the report states.

Christie said Hill's presentation at the specially convened meeting was irregular and improper and contravened the normal processes that were established by the DBJ itself for the submission and approval of business proposals of that nature.

He added that the conduct of Hill, Davis and the former board of directors contravened the Public Bodies Management Act, which prohibits a director from participating in any deliberation with respect to any matter in which the director has a personal interest.

While the leases were not put to public tender, Christie noted in the report, two other entities had expressed an interest in the property - First Global Bank and Paymaster Jamaica Limited - in May last year.

When The Gleaner attempted to contact Hill or Davis yesterday, neither could be reached for comment.