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Enmore NDC minutes confirms plan to sell computers

Apr 08, 2017 News

By Brushell Blackman
In a twist to the seizure of 15 computers and eight power packs from the Enmore/Hope Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), this newspaper has seen the minutes of that NDC that confirms that the computers were indeed going to be sold.
The minutes dated December 12, 2016 stated, “Councillor Deochan enquired about the computers in the computer room; council made a decision to sell all the computers.” The minutes were subsequently signed by the chairman.
On Thursday a number of officials from the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) and the E-Governance unit which has oversight of the government ICT assets descended on the NDC office and seized the computers and power packs after receiving information that there was a plan to sell the items.
According to Aubrey Heath-Retemyer, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SARU the computers as far as he knows, was gifted to that NDC by the E-Governance Unit during the reign of the previous administration.
Retemyer said that the computers are not the property of the NDC and they cannot be sold by that council. Further he said that contrary to what the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has said, the computers were not being used.
According to SARU Head, the computers were in a room on the upper flat of the building covered with dust and cobweb and in a state of disrepair. “The PPP is very dishonest and barefaced; those computers were sitting in a room and they appear to have not been used in a very long time.”
Retemyer brushed aside allegations that the two units acted unilaterally and entered the premises knowing that they were not vested with police powers to do so. He explained that a police officer was present when the raid was conducted.
When asked if a warrant was presented before that raid was conducted, the CEO answered in the negative.
Retemyer said based on their information the computers were earmarked to be sold to a council member of the NDC who owns an internet café in the area. He said that the computers were given to the council to be used by the community.
Retemyer said he wanted to make it clear that there were no other motives for the seizure of the computers apart from safeguarding the state’s property from theft. The 15 desktop computers and eight backup power packs are now with the E-Governance Unit.
The Ministry of Public Telecommunication in a release yesterday confirmed that the computers are the property of the state.
The statement said that the computers were a donation from the Basic Needs Trust Fund and were intended for the use by the residents of the community. The statement went on to say that upon learning about the impending sale steps were taken to prevent the illegal act.
The release also said that the computers will be returned to the Enmore community once it has been agreed that they would not be sold or otherwise disposed of.

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