KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites said his ministry stands ready to respond to the Contractor General when they are contacted in relation to the controversial bookmarks distributed to primary school students to commemorate Jamaica 50.

Thwaites’ comment comes as the Opposition called on Contractor General Greg Christie to probe the ministry’s expenditure on the bookmarks that bore the minister’s image on a picture of the flag.

Opposition spokesperson Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert was represented in the media as saying she has no issue with the bookmarks being issued as souvenirs, but with several million dollars spent to create the erroneous bookmarks, there may have been breaches of procurement guidelines.

Meanwhile, Thwaites said the ministry will reserve all comment and information until the office of the contractor general communicates with it.

“Any further questions will be answered when he has done his enquiries,” he said.