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PAC exposes loose arrangements in Ministries – PNCR Joe Harmon

Dec 06, 2012 News

 

 

Shadow Minister for Public Works, Attorney at Law, Joe Harmon, yesterday said that last Monday’s Public Accounts Committee meeting has exposed that there is a “loose arrangement” within the Ministry of Tourism and some other Ministries.
On Monday last, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Willet Hamilton, was grilled about why the Ministry spent $13M in 2009; and $10M in 2010 over the use of taxi services for staffers.
According to Harmon, there should be a greater degree of accountability and a proper system of procurement. “It’s far too much money to be used for taxis…there must be a system of accountability for Government Ministries,” Harmon told Kaieteur News.
According to Harmon, it is important for the PS to note that he is accountable, since he was the one who was called before the PAC. He said that APNU has been talking about the issue of the PSs’ within the Ministries being accountable. Harmon said that it is the PS who has to hold the Minister in “check”.
He said that he hopes that more serious and stringent measures are put in place to ensure that monies are not wasted on frivolous things. Harmon further noted that this serves as notice to other permanent secretaries that they are accountable and they should stand up within their respected Ministries.
The Auditor General’s report stated that the Ministry spent a whopping $11.1 million on transporting activities.  In 2009, R and T Taxi Service, received $7,471,000; Green Ice received $752,000 and Courtesy Transport received $5,538,000; a total of $13,761,000 to transport Ministry of Tourism staffers for supposed work related purposes.
In 2010, Indian Chief Taxi Service received $144,000, R and T Taxi Service received $7,153,000; while Green Ice was paid $2,750,000; a total of $10,047,000 to again transport Ministry staff for work related matters.
Last year, for transporting purposes, Indian Chief received $5,089,000 from the Tourism Ministry. R and T Taxi Service received $3,046,000 and Green Ice received $2,979,000. However, all of the owners for the services have denied that they were paid these sums. The owners are calling for a better audit.
Hamilton has explained that the Ministry staffers would have used taxis since vehicles are limited. According to Hamilton, the Ministry currently has three vehicles. According to Hamilton he has made the request to have more vehicles be afforded to the Ministry, but has not received any.

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