The Integrity Commission has pointed out that while Health Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton was not directly involved in the awarding of contracts to Market Me, he may have indirectly influenced it.

This, as outlined in a lengthy report tabled in Parliament yesterday.

The commission’s investigation followed allegations of conflict of interest in the award of contracts to the entity, Market Me Consulting Limited by the Ministry of Health for the development and implementation of a social marketing campaign during the period January 2016 to December 2020.

In its report, the Director of Investigations noted that no evidence was seen which indicated that Dr. Christopher Tufton was directly involved in the award of a contract to Market Me in the amount of over $15 million.

It said the extent of the involvement of Dr. Tufton was the introduction of the mentioned company and its ‘proposal’ to officers at the ministry. 

It said Dr. Tufton’s actions could reasonably be considered to have indirectly influenced the engagement of Market Me, which ultimately resulted in that entity being awarded contracts of just under $80 million. 

The DI concluded that there is evidence to support a finding that the actions of Dr. Tufton gave rise to, at its lowest, a perceived conflict of interest and thereby contravened the principles of transparency and good governance.

The commission noted that Dr. Tufton appeared to have advanced a private interest, which resulted in a monetary benefit to Market Me Consulting Limited, of which Ms. Lyndsey McDonnough is a co-managing director and an individual with whom, at the material time, Dr. Tufton had a friendship.

Neither Dr. Tufton nor Ms. McDonnough made formal declarations of conflict.

The commission said, having regard to the conflict of interest concerns, it recommended that the matter be referred to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.