-$40 million unaccounted for
Investigation into poor leadership, mismanagement and missing monies continue to grip the Matakai sub-region’s Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) with the overseer being dismissed three weeks ago. Two more persons have since been sacked from the NDC, as more allegations of corruption surface. It is alleged that Jamila James a Clerk and Marlon Alberts a Clerk/Driver were asked to resign on Friday last.
The damning leaked Report made several indictments against the NDC under the control of the PPP. For instance, “The Council failed [to] prepare payment vouchers for expenditures undertaken. It was explained that monies were expended; however no payment vouchers were prepared.” Additionally, “With reference to cheque payments, the signatories to the bank account of the Council would oftentimes sign cheques without a payment voucher and other supporting documentation being presented.”
The NDC’s toll system indicated corruption and fraud, as a racket was unearthed there as well. The Report states, “A reconciliation of the toll register with receipts issued and the toll register at the toll station revealed that amounts on the receipts would have varied from what was recorded in respected registers.”
The Reports shows, “The following monies were embezzled by respective officers of the Council”, Donna James, $457,000 dollars in fifty-eight (58) instances of detected fraud; Nathaley Jacobs $454,000, in fifty-eight (58) instances of detected fraud as well. They were among several other persons implicated in wrongdoing. The NDC Chairman, Orlando Thorn along with the Chairperson of the NDC’s Finance Committee and Advisor to the Prime Minister Margret Lambert, allegedly following instructions from “seniors”.
Credible sources at the Local Government Commission stated that no reports were made to the Commission about the alleged acts of corruption against these two Clerks prior to them being asked to resign. Additionally, two other persons from the NDC who were also recently dismissed now report for duty at the District Hospital.
More, In The Ring!
