NDIA fraud allegations...Findings to be available by month-end

NDIA fraud allegations…Findings to be available by month-end

Mar 14, 2013 News

About six months after a damning report of fraud allegations at the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) involving senior officials was sent to President Donald Ramotar by the entity’s Field Auditor, the truth will finally be revealed.
Findings of the investigations conducted by the Audit Office would be sent to Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Chairman of the NDIA Board, Dharamkumar Seeraj by this month-end.

Deodat Sharma

In October last year, a report recommending the immediate dismissal of the entity’s Chief Executive Officer Lionel Wordsworth and Senior Section Engineer, Aneel Chowbay, highlighted several instances of fraud and conflict of interest. The report was leaked to the media.
The report on fuel consumption and equipment operations and maintenance, was conducted between May and September 2012. It was completed and submitted to the Chairman of NDIA Board of Directors on September 26, and carbon copied Ramotar.
Though, Sharma does not want to reveal details of the findings confirming if the Field Auditor was accurate in his report, previous comments by Seeraj confirmed there were procedural breaches at the entity.
In addition, in the Audit Office Report 2011, it was recommended that the Agriculture Ministry put measures in place to ensure stricter supervision and control over the issuing of fuel to the Regions for its fleet of machinery and equipment; and the log books are maintained for all of its vehicles and equipment, and submitted for audit examination when requested.
According to Sharma, focus was placed on the purchase of fuel; contracts and the procedure used to award contracts; and vouchers- particularly, who is responsible for signing off of vouchers.
His office is currently wrapping up a comprehensive report into NDIA’s operations for 2012.
He noted that the investigations are not only limited to the allegations in the Field Auditor’s Report.