President says it didn’t address assets of customs employees
President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said the Auditor General’s report which probed bribery allegations at customs is now with the Director of Public Prosecutions for a review of the recommended charges and “hopefully (to) have the appropriate charges laid”, as outlined by the task force which conducted the investigation.
Jagdeo had been studying the report, but made no pronouncements on the findings yesterday when he updated the media during a press conference.
He said that it would be tabled in Parliament at an upcoming sitting and would be made public then.
Prior to the President’s disclosure about the current involvement of the DPP’s office, it had been reported that the Auditor General exhausted a considerable amount of time on the report before it was ultimately prepared for him to study it.
Specifically though, the President noted that the report failed to capture the financial standing of officers at the Customs and Trade Administration (CTA), adding that he had hoped the assets of some of the customs officers would have been investigated as stipulated in the terms of reference. He said that when people cannot account for their assets, “they have a lot to answer for”.
But Jagdeo pointed out that a lack of resources might have been the stumbling block for the task force. However, he said at some point the investigation into the assets of some employees must happen.
“Clearly this coverage must happen and if there is need for external help then we will get it, I had promised outside help in the past and we will pay for it”, Jagdeo said in reference to the need for the task force to begin a second probe. He added that persons involved in the fraud must be held accountable.
The report offers details into the bribery scandal that rocked the Customs and Trade Administration (CTA), and documents a series of interviews with those alleged to have been involved.
It also contains key recommendations as regards officials at customs and a string of others allegedly tied to the fraud; suggesting that criminal charges be instituted in some instances. Specifically, the report recommends charges against Fidelity Investments, the company at the centre of the investigation and the scandal.
Sources said the investigation found that officers were openly deceptive about the contents of the containers they had examined and cleared at the wharf for Fidelity as they insisted and even falsified documents stating that soft drinks had been imported by Fidelity.
It is believed that at least one high-ranking official within the GRA, who had been embroiled in the Polar beer scandal involving Fidelity, will face disciplinary action as recommended by the task force, for incompetence; more so failing to detect the corrupt practices of officers working in that division.
This file is doing the merry go round and we all know what happens when that happens “NOTHING” . A few low level people will be slapped with charges and the “KINGS” will walk away free.
“…….Fidelity bribery probe report with DPP” and that’s where it will remain!!
access the assets of ministers, REO’s, and other PPP officials, starting with your own as an example
does dat inclucde Burnham’s assets too?
don’t forget the former officials of ‘the guyana timbers ltd’, ‘the fisheries corporation’, ‘guyana glass works’, ‘textile mill’, ‘the bus company’, ‘gntc’, ‘. ‘guy.marketing corp’. ‘grb’. ‘elec. corp’. many of them in the former administration will not like that.
The DPP’s Chambers is the red light. Once it reaches there it says “stop”. In no way, shape or form will this government allow itself to be exposed for who/what they truly are. The same thing was done when gajraj was being ‘probed’ for his involvement with the phantom. Bacchus died & the commission of inquiry found nothing then the honourable minister was sent back to the motherland for another well paid job utilising our taxpayers monies.
GUYANA NEED A SPECIAL AGENCY FOR CORRUPTION SINCE IT RATTIFIED THE UNITED NATION CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION WHICH INCLUDING AN EXTRAORDINARY CHAMBER IN OUR COURT AND SPECIAL CORRUPTION PROSECUTORS.
WHERE IS OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT MADE A PRESENTATION ON AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO COMBAT CORRUPTION IN GUYANA? NOTHING WAS EVER DONE IN THIS JUNCTURE.
Guyana, Like every other country has an Intregity Commission where all politicians are required to declare all their assets before entering politics.
Does it still function?????????? If so where is the location and whois the thehead of the commission???????????
B Thomas ha ha ha i agreed with you.good one ,
The DPP chambers does not have the legal luminus to succeed against such high level corruption. The PPP muffed it when they failed to appoint Dr. Arif Bulkhan to the post.
can I be a part of that agency?
i want a wuk at customs i bet allya that i will make money and nothing will happen….because somebody big up will call me and ask me to let dem fren through without paying…..hahahaha.