Corporation heads not speaking about fraud

JOINT Select Committee (JSC) member Jennifer Baptiste-Primus expressed disappointment that heads of municipal corporations were not being up front about fraud issues.

“I am somewhat disappointed CEOS not seizing the opportunity to come to the enquiry with clean hands. If ther are irregularities, issues of fraud then tell the committee. The reports speak of fraudulent activities. To give the expression all is well and ‘hunky-dory’ leads me to the point of expressing disappointment.”

She was speaking on Wednesday as the JSC on Local Authorities met with officials of the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government and municipal corporation officials.

JSC member Khadijah Ameen asked the corporation heads to speak about issues of fraud at their corporations. Port of Spain City Corporation CEO Annette Stapleton-Seaforth said there were no reports of fraudulent activity but the corporation was looking at a drafting a fraud policy. San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello said his corporation recently had a matter with 16 fraudulent checks of more than $3,000 each which had been circulated in the Port of Spain area. The matter was being investigated by the police.

Arima Borough Corporation CEO Cheryl Sirju-Chong said there were instances of fraudulent checks and fraudulent food badges. Point Fortin Borough Corporation CEO Donnamay Taylor said in 2017 there was a case of 32 bags of cement going missing which had been investigated and handed over to the municipal police. Point Fortin Mayor Abdon Mason said his council did not have the same situations but was looking at a motion to establish a fraud policy. “Although we are not affected we are not immune to being affected.”

Chaguanas Borough Corporation CEO Jameel Chadee Ameeral said there were no issues of fraud at his corporation other than an officer suspended over issuing job letters. Ameen asked about reports in the media of fraud related to the approvals of buildings. Chadee Ameeral said he was aware of suspicions at the corporation but he had seen no evidence though he was keeping his “eyes peeled.” Baptiste-Primus pointed out calls for a forensic audit into inaccuracies regarding an open tray system at Chaguanas Borough and asked him to review his statement. Ameeral said that report was being reviewed since October.

Ameen said there were articles in the media with local government representatives complaining about collusion with contractors and issues with scavenging and substandard work.

“There must be some information. Some awareness by CEOs.”

She said the officials might not have wanted to express dissatisfaction with funding and fraud because it might have been seen as an indictment but the general public was aware of the the issues with poor contractor services, poor garbage collection and irregularities in hiring practices. “You are telling the public you are either not aware or not concerned about the issues that face them.”

Mason said because of the absence of a whistle-blower policy some people may be afraid to indicate incidents of fraud and that allowed an opportunity for a cover-up. He said his corporation would be looking at a whistle-blower policy and fraud policy.