Latest update November 14th, 2024 12:02 AM
Ministry set ablaze hours after audit launched into $1B cleanup
Mere hours after an investigation was launched into last year’s $1B “Clean up my Country” campaign initiated by the previous administration, an arson attempt was directed to the Audit Section of the Ministry of Communities,
Fire Service and the police outside the Ministry of Communities yesterday afternoon
Fort Street, Kingston yesterday afternoon.
The Ministry, formerly known as the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, had spearheaded the cleanup project under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government, which saw a $500M expenditure in the Georgetown area alone. The rest was allocated to various regional bodies.
This newspaper understands that yesterday the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communities ordered a special audit into the spending of the countrywide cleanup project.
According to sources close to the Ministry, documents regarding spending in the project were subsequently requested by auditors within the Ministry. These documents would have provided records of the Ministry’s spending with regard to transactions.
However, reportedly one hour after the request was made, Ministry staff members were alerted that a fire had started in the Audit Section of the compound. The fire was reportedly in a room immediately next to where the documents were housed. The Minister’s office is also said to be located in the same section of the compound.
Sources close to investigation, told this newspaper that the fire was contained to an isolated room. After the flames were reportedly extinguished it was found that two chairs and the walls of the room were scorched, while the carpet was discovered to be burnt. It is believed by investigators that the floor had been saturated with kerosene, hence the reason for the burnt carpet.
Around 17:00hrs, security guards for the Ministry noticed dark smoke billowing from that section of the compound and promptly altered the Fire Service to the scene. When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene the Fire Service officials were still investigating the incident.
In a recent article published by this newspaper, newly appointed Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, had promised a forensic audit of the $1B “Clean up my Country” campaign, due to evidence pointing to the mismanagement of allocated funds by the previous Local Government and Regional Development Ministry.
According to Bulkan, the central Government had granted the allocation without meaningful consultation with the Municipalities. Taxpayers did not get value for their money out of the initiative.
Recently the publication had received reports, that when the new government took office the Ministry Boardroom was filled with wheel barrows, which were meant for the initiative but had not been utilised. This suggested that the Boardroom was not in use.
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