Professor Thomas, Retemeyer occupying SARA offices illegally

Jul 23, 2018 News

– Nandlall

Director of the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA), Professor Clive Thomas and SARA’s Deputy Director, Aubrey Heath-Retemyer are holding their respective posts illegally, says former Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall.
In a missive to the media, Nandlall said that the SARA Act provides very clearly that the Director and Deputy Director of the agency shall be appointed through a parliamentary process. Since that Act came into force last year, Nandlall said that that process was never activated.
The Opposition Member said that a transition provision in the Act allowed the Director who operated in the agency before the Act came into force, to continue to act in that office for a limited period. Nandlall noted however that that period has long expired.

SARA Director, Professor Clive Thomas

SARA Deputy Director, Aubrey Heath-Retemyer

Opposition Member, Anil Nandlall

He said, “Neither was appointed by the National Assembly process mandated by the Act. Therefore, Mr. Retemeyer and Dr. Thomas are unlawfully holding offices and receiving public monies as remuneration. Why is this crime and unlawful conduct not being investigated by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU)? But of course, that will not happen.”
CORRUPTION
Since taking over as head of SARU, Professor Thomas has on numerous occasions, spoken to the importance for attention to be placed on recovering stolen public assets.
He said that the “rampant corruption under the 23-year rule of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) should not be ignored.” Dr. Thomas has stated that any new government pursuing good governance would seek to recover the nation’s assets, which were mismanaged in “some of the most despicable and corrupt ways.”
He had said, “A clear line must be drawn against past illicit/corrupt behaviour in order to prevent their future repetition.”He asserted that the corruption that has been taking place in Guyana can be deemed public and not private, because it is based on fraudulent public procurement contracts; illegal capital flow, particularly illicit mis-invoicing of exports and imports and illicit financial transactions; and an underground economy that is driven principally by criminal endeavours and the evasion of taxes.
Dr. Thomas believes that the new administration can make bountiful gains by eradicating certain practices. The economist projected that the APNU+AFC government could rake in $21B in total revenues, once illicit siphoning off practices are halted. Professor Thomas also said that those who held authority over state assets under the previous administration will be subject to “rigourous” audits, preparations for which are already underway.
The Economist said that this comes in light of the “hundreds upon hundreds of complaints” that come in daily to the Asset Recovery Agency regarding individuals who held high office and abused or allegedly stole state assets.
Dr. Thomas said that by all legal means necessary, his entity’s mandate to return or regain what rightfully belongs to the state, will be achieved.
He noted that under the previous regime, the assets of the state were “misused and in some cases stolen in unconscionable ways.” He said that he will make it his duty to see that due process is followed and that justice is served.
“I cannot begin to tell you the amount of complaints we get on a daily basis on persons under the previous government who abused assets of the state and in some cases, the evidence would strongly suggest that they stole it for their own benefit or the benefit of a third party. So we have our job cut out for us.”