Ingram: Ties with Wackenhut brief

Public Safety Commissioner Charles Ingram said his business consultancy contract with Wackenhut Corporation only lasted for six days to merit disclosure in his statement of financial interest.

The Commissioner issued these statements following reports questioning his business association with Wackenhut which is eyeing for a sole source contract with the CNMI government for the new correction facility on Saipan.

“I was paid $600 for the six days of consulting work (which took place in March 1997),” he said, adding that he was not required to disclose his association with the company when he filed his statement of financial interest following his appointment as DPS Commissioner.

In a letter to elected officials, former representative Stanley Torres raised concern over the extent of the relations between Wackenhut and Ingram.

He also questioned the Commissioner’s failure to disclose his association with the firm when he filed his statement of financial interest prior to his confirmation with the Senate.

According to Ingram, Wackenhut made a presentation before members of the legislature and former DPS Commissioner Jose Castro when the plan to build a new jail was earlier reported.

Although, officials are supporting the sole source contract for the new prison, Ingram refuses to join the bandwagon.

“I don’t support the sole sourcing. If he’s (Torres) saying that I support the company, he’s wrong, ” he told Saipan Tribune.

He said even before Department of Public Works made the invitation for bidding, there were already eight companies interested to do the jail project.