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Ministry of Youth and Sport official under probe over ‘missing’ millions – Ministry of Presidency alerted

May 08, 2017 News

A senior official at the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport is alleged to have misappropriated millions of dollars in state funds and this matter is now engaging the attention of the Ministry of Presidency (MOP).
This was confirmed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who told Kaieteur News yesterday that an issue related to the said individual was brought to his attention and that matter is now on government’s radar.
Harmon said that he was not at liberty to say what the issue is since there is an active investigation in relation to the official.
According to a well-placed source inside the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, staff at the accounts department had reasons to ‘complain’ to one of the Ministers at that Ministry after some financial records, which aroused suspicion, were unearthed.
The alleged misappropriation is said to relate to funds that were set aside for sports programmes across the country.
While the source could not say precisely how much money was misused, the source was adamant that it was a few million.
Additionally, Kaieteur New was told that the official had approached staff in the accounts department to undertake financial transactions that are contrary to what is approved. It was at this juncture that senior ministry officials were alerted.
It was alleged that some staff in the accounts department requested transfers after regular ‘run-ins’ with the official.
It is believed that the official is now aware that MOP has knowledge of what is happening at that Ministry and this is not going down well with the individual. The source said that a Deputy to this official had to seek the intervention of the Public Service Ministry due to constant ‘spats’ over the said allegations with the official.
The source said that the infighting at that section of the Ministry has become so apparent that other auxiliary staffers are now becoming involved.  Kaieteur News understands that the official at the centre of the allegation is instructing subordinates not to undertake tasks directed by his superiors.
Another official who requested to remain anonymous said that the individual under scrutiny is now creating unnecessary tension at that Ministry and has become very ‘disruptive’.
This new allegation comes at a time when the Granger led administration has been adopting a zero tolerance approach on corruption by public officials.
So far two senior officials, Former Permanent secretary of the Ministry of Presidency Omar Shariff and former head of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) Nizam Hassan are before the courts for alleged ‘skullduggery’ in public office.
Under Hassan’s stewardship at the GMC it is alleged that state funds were misappropriated during the renovation of the GMC office.

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