FORMER Lucea mayor Shernet Haughton is again caught in controversy after the Office of the Contractor General uncovered what it said were breaches concerning the sale of a Government-owned motor vehicle to her.

The OCG said it found that the 2009 Land Cruiser Prado — which was assigned to Haughton in March 2012 when she became mayor and chair of the parish council — was sold to her in 2014 for $2.2 million at a time when she was ineligible to submit a bid for the vehicle.

According to the OCG, the parish council received two valuations for the vehicle for $950,000 and $3,150,000, respectively from the Ministry of Finance and Planning Board of Survey Unit, and an independent valuator. The recommended sale price of the vehicle was $2,050,000.

In its 108-page report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, the OCG outlined that Haughton was only employed to the Hanover Parish Council as mayor and chairperson for two years, from March 2012 to August 2014, and thus did “not meet the requirement of three years as stipulated by the Revised Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Policy for the Public Sector”.

The OCG also took issue with the copy of the “referenced” policy that was provided by the parish council, noting that it “excluded the provision that makes it mandatory for Ms Haughton to have been assigned the motor vehicle in her capacity as mayor for at least three years”.

“The OCG is of the opinion that the action of the Hanover Parish Council in this regard, is bridled with suspicion and can be interpreted, at best, as an attempt to mislead or feign ignorance. Moreso, the stated policy is made available by the Ministry of Finance and Planning and consequently in divesting or disposing of the Government asset, the parish council ought to be acquainted themselves with, and abide by all relevant policies, guidelines and legislation,” the OCG said.

Additionally, the OCG said that the method used to dispose of the vehicle “exhibited impropriety and irregularity on the part of the principal accountable officer” who was identified as the then secretary manager.

The OCG said the vehicle was sold by way of a closed auction, but only made available to the council’s employees. It said that such an auction should be open to all Government employees as stipulated by the policy.

“By removing the possibility of all Government employees participating in the referenced auction, the OCG questions the extent to which the process could be deemed to be competitive, fair and impartial,” the OCG said.

“The process which was employed demonstrated a disregard for the applicable policy and guidelines in the process of disposal, and the naming of Ms Haughton as the successful bidder was impartial and without merit. The failure to determine whether all committees should approve the sale is a question that should be answered,” the OCG added.

In the meantime, the OCG outlined what is said were other irregularities, including a flawed inspection process, and significant disparities between the council’s assessment of the vehicle and that conducted by an independent valuator.

The report comes on the heels of another alleging incidents of gross impropriety, favouritism, and other breaches involving the awarding of government contracts by Hanover councillors.

Last year, Haughton was forced to resign as mayor after similar allegations were levelled against her. She is now before the courts on charges of misconduct in a public office and breaches of the public sector procurement regulations of 2008.