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News
Ministry officials unable to explain $19-m expenditure
BY ERICA VIRTUE Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
MEMBERS of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) were left baffled yesterday as officials from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture tried without success to explain a $19-million expenditure by the ministry in the 2008-2009 financial year.
The money, the PAC heard, was spent on a number of projects which were found to be in breach of the Government's procurement guidelines.
Acting permanent secretary Robert Martin, the finance ministry's former representative to the PAC who was placed in the hot seat at the sitting, called on the relevant officials from the youth, sports and culture ministry to offer explanations being sought by Auditor General Pamela Munroe-Ellis.
The auditor general cited items 8: 33 - 34 of her 2008-2009 report which showed procurement breaches by an agency of the ministry.
"This relates to breaches of the procurement guideline. It is stated there that there is no evidence of competitive price quotation for transactions totalling approximately $19 million, and further... a multiplicity of different transactions," Munroe-Ellis said.
The officials who were asked to answer, waffled on several explanations but little light was shed on the expenditures.
Daniel Wilson, the first official who spoke, said a significant portion of the expenditure was for parliamentarians' constituency projects paid through the Social Development Commission (SDC).
That, however, represented only $3 million of the $19 million expenditure.
He said the queries arose because there was an absence of three quotations for each project — a requirement of the Contractor General.
Acting executive director of the SDC, Dwayne Vernon, corroborated Wilson's explanation that the projects were MP's programmes routed through the SDC. However, he said that the agency could not verify them.
The PAC was told that one such project was carried out in St Thomas Western for emergency drain cleaning work after Hurricane Gustav in 2007.
The work was done at a cost of $1.6 million.
Vernon said the agency did not have the manpower to verify the scope of work done, and in many instances invoices for payment were submitted by contractors before the projects could be verified.
"There are some projects that the Social Development Commission don't have the skills set in terms of the capacity or the manpower to take care of," Vernon explained. "This is one such project. This was sent to us from the Constituency Development Fund to deal with emergency work. And the truth is, most times when the projects come to us they are already done. I am laying it out."
Chairman of the PAC, Dr Omar Davies, asked how the SDC knew there was any work in the first place and Vernon asked for protection, saying the SDC's reputation was at stake.
"We are exposed a number of times, which is unfair to the agency," he said.
He added that as the implementing agency, his office should inspect and procure the services but this was not being done.
When it emerged at yesterday's meeting that the same contractor was given another contract to repair the SDC's Mandeville office, the PAC was moved to ask if there were no competent contractors in Mandeville to carry out the project.
Vernon admitted that no tender was submitted as the contractor was known to the agency.
Dr Morais Guy said the work in Mandeville began even before the procurement committee, based on the findings of the AG's Department, signed a contract.
Martin said in the future, all relevant procurement would be supported by documents, which was part of the breach the department highlighted.
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1/26/2011
Bruce gave the opposition full representation in the PAC that's how Omar got top dog. Bruce wanted checks and balances. Omar knows the in and outs of contract violations, he had OJT for 18 years. Babsy is being targeted (by the PNPYO of all people) because she appears to be a weak link. They knew last week this news was going to break that's why they were making noises on the other newspaper all of last week. Comedy of dirt and dirtbags, it's probably much ado about not much.
1/26/2011
What has been made public so far makes absolutely no sense. Things cannot work like how this report is making it out to be. If there are breaches there must be penalties. It seems pretty easy to find out who committed the breaches. This is a golden opportunity for Bruce to regain our confidence. He must take some serious action against the guilty parties. Time for action Bruce. Do something bout this. You have to, You must and I am putting my head on the block with my friends that you will.
1/26/2011
The NDM ,PPP and the NC Jesus party should be protesting for mass resignition from the Ministry of Sports and Culture. Anything the PNP has the JLP has This young man defending Babsy Grange will be he fall guy and will turne out to be like the PNP Kern Spencer.
1/26/2011
There's a name that is mentioned in this article that should send a red flag. Mr. Omar Davies, how is it that he is now the chairman of PAC? To me this smells tooo fishy for me. Based on his "Financial" control for his party for the country, look where we are today. He sold us out then and I think the trend is still happening. I think there should be an overhaul of the laws that are implemented to how politicians serve for either party. NOTHING substantial/positive is being done for our country
1/26/2011
The absence of some serial bloggers from this debate such as CA etc speaks volumes!! Simply undefensible!!
Jail in Ja is only for the poor and unconnected. How did that man found selling guns on/off Mt View be set free and only the "poor" police left albeit temporarily in jail? How come??
1/26/2011
So I guess this is an example of what Mr.LLoyd B, was reffering to in one of his late articles.as the FEEDING TROUGH of the current Government. I am wishing that ERVERY SUCH CONTRACT be made public and all the related officials made PUBLIC. I know we can bank on Mr.Christie to follow the SUGAR TRAIL to the source. Now I am not sure who is responsible to prosecute, but whom ever it is he/she can rest assure Mr. Ollington who in my judgement is just as fearless as Mr. Christie will BANGLE THEM.
1/26/2011
Rex Morgan, Bruce Golding is circumventing the procurement guidelines, going around Greg Christie, so you can't expect the rest of Bruce Golding regime not to do the same. I am sure Bruce Golding is going to tell the public to come and ask him what the 19 million on spend on.
1/26/2011
If some one fails to follow t the procurement guidelines for gov. contracts we are told it is a violation of the law. Now, is this VIOLATION a criminal offence punishable under the law? If it is, then who file the charges? How come nobody is ever prosecuted? What role does the Director of Prosecution (DPP) and the Contractor General play in these matters? To my mind the Office of the DPP and the Contractor General if they want to can end the shenanigans in the violation of our law.
1/26/2011
Somebody MUST lose their job for this, or better yet somebody MUST go to jail. We usually give people the benefit of the doubt and wait until their "investigations" are completed but this just give people enough time to hide evidence. People at decision making levels will do things contrary to established protocols because they know they will get away scotch free after a few days of noise. This need to stop. Examples need to be made.
1/26/2011
Anytime there is mis mgmt of govt funds/peoples money, there should def be criminal charges for the minister in charge....dyaam it,
1/26/2011
so is anyone going to jail? this seriously can't be the end of the inquiry, can it?
1/26/2011
The new acting PS Robert Martin is an experienced Cvil Servant, these breaches will be a thing of the past under his watch. But he will have to be prepared to stand up to the Minister who will try to get him to do things outside of the guidelines. A former PM once famously said, he "didn't sign cheques" That is what they do, apply pressure or commit the public purse then send in the bill. When they are challenged, they resort to threats and the use of expletives and abusive language. Stand firm
1/26/2011
On both side the passion is for winning election and little to do with serving the people. These people are about talking, making promises, defending one another and dressing up for the cameras. All of this waste while the Youth complain of poor representation and financing of youth centres and Mr Newby rose in defence and Ms Grange smiles and looks pretty for her next photo to be printed in the papers or for television..
1/26/2011
This is a matter for the Fraud Squad.
Until people are held criminally responsible for "missing Government funds" or "unaccountable expenses" there will be the continuous pillage of taxpayers' money.
Jail is the only effective deterent. These people have no shame.
JA Cynic
1/26/2011
I hope every Jamaican is learning that neither party is better. This was the same thing the JLP lick out against when they were in opposition and they are proving to be just as bad maybe even worse within 3 years. I wouldnt be surprised if some of these monies were used to take first class trips to first class hotels to attend sporting events around the world, and we must "Lay off Babsy?".
1/26/2011
Is this the appropriate time for us to ridicule the contractor general. hmmm.... Mr editor and your cartoonist. No wonder there is the request to play ease up.
1/26/2011
... uhm... Way to go Babsy!
1/26/2011
Nice... SMH. A clear example of incompetence, cronyism, and mismanagement.
1/26/2011
Are these people serious ? Free money!!! Our money is spent or should I say given away by this Govt it boggles the mind and then I read elsewhere that the only corruption that this Govt is MPP/Dudusgate.This was to be expected though because after being in the wilderness for 18+ years you know they would be lining their pockets and that of their friends and cronies.God help us .
1/26/2011
Where is Minister Shaw's audit.? He promised that no one will escape audits.. Over to you Minister Shaw
Porus according to his report was only 1 million dollars in the red???this is 19 millions
1/26/2011
Unbelievable !
These scum-bags in Governance will never learn. None of these people brought any personal wealth to Governance based on their successful management of any Business Ownership they had. Yet, they are given powers to use taxpayers monies as they wish without following the established procedures and protocols.
These scum-bags must go post haste !
1/26/2011
Whenever these things happened and we comment against it other writers brand us as wearing orange colored glasses.Whether a man is PNP or JLP people must be open minded,stand up and talk against wrong and not support wrong.The money these officials are mishandling are our money,if they even borrow it we are the one paying back.This is the very ministry the youths want to see the minister remove,her assistance said we must blame him and not his boss.will he now come forward with some answers?
1/26/2011
Here we go again, public funds being spent without relevant guidelines being followed and no documentation to support these expenditures.
Typical Jamaica !!
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