Latest update January 1st, 2025 1:00 AM
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Controversial $90M… Probe to be completed in three weeks
– Auditor General
Auditor General (ag) Deodat Sharma says that he, along with a team from his office, has commenced a probe into the now controversial $90M allocated for the Guyana Police Force for the purpose of feeding ranks in-lying during the November elections last year.
Sharma says that the probe which commenced last week should be completed in about three weeks’ time and the findings will determine when the results will be made public.
Auditor General (ag) Deodat Sharma
Sharma explained that depending on what the probe uncovers the report will be made immediately or will just form a part of the annual report which he would normally undertake.
The Auditor General says that he is in possession of the relevant documents and will look into each aspect of the allegations being leveled against the officials.
The major opposition parties, namely Alliance for Change and A Partnership for National Unity had demanded a probe into the controversial $90M that government allocated to the police for meals and other expenses for the November 28th elections, but which some Divisional Commanders say never reached them.
Former E and F Division Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Ramnarine, had disclosed that he never received any of the money for his ranks’ upkeep. He also said that he was told to solicit monies and other facilities from members of the business community.
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee subsequently produced a copy of a cheque issued to Ramnarine for $320,000 and drawn from the Police Welfare Fund which many have since questioned.
Sharma says this too (use of the Welfare Fund) will be subjected to the probe which he has launched.
To date, the Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, who has since proceeded on leave to facilitate a probe into a rape allegation against him, has been silent despite the repeated allegations of impropriety.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also stated that it never advised the police to seek assistance from the business community to feed ranks during last November’s General and Regional elections.
Divisional Commanders had indicated to this newspaper that they were advised by Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, to seek the assistance of the public since the Force had not received money from central government.
The Ministry said “as regards letters issued by Mr. Henry Greene to Commanders to seek the assistance of the public, assuming that this is indeed the case, the Ministry wishes to make it clear that no such instruction originated from Ministry of Home Affairs.”
The Ministry added, “…those who worked with and for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) over the years and prior to and after 1992 must know about these practices and much more which they themselves condoned and approved during their association with the Guyana Police Force.”
The Ministry is also maintaining that no illegal or criminal act was committed by the payment of part of the $90M allocated for police elections duties into the Police Central Welfare Fund.
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