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OP financial records missing, hundreds of millions unaccounted for

Dec 14, 2008 News

…wildlife alone accounts for $100M each year

 

During the period July 1998 to June 2002, the records of revenue earned from the export of wildlife could not be located, and as such it is unclear as to how much revenue was earned during that period, or where the money is, or what happened to the money.

This is according to Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, People’s National Congress Reform Member of Parliament Volda Lawrence, who was referring to a statement in the most recent treasury memorandum tabled in the National Assembly by the Finance Minister.

The treasury memorandum is a written response to the inconsistencies raised by the Public Accounts Committee for the period 2002 and 2003.

According to the document, the amount of $168.3M was transferred from the Deposits Fund bank account to the Consolidated Fund bank account vide credit advice No. 39-029252, dated 2004 -01- 06.

The records in relation to the period July 1998 to June 2002, four years, cannot be located, and all attempts to have same reconstructed have been futile.

This newspaper has learnt that, each year, wildlife exports account for in excess of a hundred million dollars.

Each Government entity is required to deposit monies in its possession into the Consolidated Fund on December 31; but according to Lawrence, several entities under the purview of the Office of the President have not done so.

The discovery of several hundred million dollars earned from the export of wildlife is reminiscent of the dolphin scandal that came to light in 2004.

In that year, the Board of the Wildlife Management Authority fired its secretary, Khelawan, for authorizing exports of dolphins without proper permits.

Also implicated in the scandal was Presidential Advisor Odinga Lumumba, who also owns Mc Neal Enterprises, the company that shipped the dolphins without permits.

It was later learnt that 38 giant anteaters had also been shipped without proper permits. These animals sell for upwards of US$10,000 each.

Though there is no ban on dolphin and anteater exports, these require a scientific study showing that the exports will not be detrimental to the populations of these animals.

The Opposition PNCR referred to the situation as a scam, and said it would not be fooled by the firing of sacrificial scapegoats.

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