The Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) has instituted disciplinary action against 21 employees for negligence in the $1million Money Order Fraud which was discovered late last year.

Bishop Juan Edghill

Chairman of the GPOC Bishop Juan Edghill disclosed yesterday that even as the police are conducting their investigations into the fraud which emanated from the Port Kaituma Post Office, the corporation moved to discipline the workers who were found negligent in their duties. Apart from the Port Kaituma post office, those at Anna Regina, Bartica, Mahaica, Wales, Vreed-en-hoop, Fort Wellington, Kitty, Campbellville, Bagotville, Queenstown, East La Penitence, Soesdyke, Rosignol, Charlestown, Bourda, Charity, Grove and Parika came under investigation.

Edghill said that if the 21 workers had paid greater attention to procedural requirements the fraud could have been prevented.

Edghill said that these employees — post masters and postal and telegraph clerks — will have to pay back the sum of money lost. The amount stolen is reported to be $1,114,000.

The chairman said the workers will not be paid benefits and they will also not be eligible for promotion for a year.  The chairman explained that the benefits which will be withheld will go towards paying back the corporation. If outstanding sums are required, the workers will have three months to repay those sums, he disclosed.  Edghill said that if any of these workers is charged, he or she will be interdicted and if found guilty dismissed.

The fraud which was reportedly discovered early in October was publicized later that month. However, the Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers’ Union (GPTWU), the union representing the workers, subsequently accused the corporation of retracting on a promise to deal with the matter internally as promised and said that the actions were in “bad faith”.