Mismanagement, corruption claims spark GGMC probe

-commissioner, others under microscope

Raphael Trotman
Raphael Trotman

-Trotman awaiting final reports before taking action

A complaint to President David Granger of mismanagement and corruption at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), in which top officials have been fingered, has sparked a probe and Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman is awaiting the final report to inform further action on the claims.

He has noted that such complaints have in part informed the plans for the restructuring of the GGMC and other agencies under the purview of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MoNR).

“My answer to all these is the restructuring process that commenced recently,” Trotman said, when asked by Sunday Stabroek about a letter written to the president from an anonymous GGMC staff member. The letter, seen by this newspaper, was sent to the president in April. The writer, among other things, alleged that the management of the GGMC is corrupt and has been disrespectful to the then Junior Minister of Natural Resources Simona Broomes.

Newell Dennison

In a subsequent letter, seen by Stabroek News, Granger wrote to Trotman in May, asking that the complaint be investigated.

The April 15th letter, sent by the “very concerned staff,” was “a desperate plea” to highlight the “downward spiral” of the GGMC, according to the missive, which levelled a series of allegations against GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison.

Dennison declined to comment on the contents of the letter when contacted but indicated that he felt “very hurt” by the accusations levelled against him. “I am aware of the letter and it is in the realm of the minister’s actions. I know that I am not above criticism but it is hurtful,” he said.

The letter alleged that a “major contributor” to the “downward spiral” of the GGMC was the alienation of Broomes from the affairs of the GGMC. “Despite her solid experience in the mining industry and passion for its growth and those involved in mining, this minister is constantly misrepresented,” the writer said.

In April, Broomes was reassigned and is now the Minister responsible for Youth Affairs in the Ministry of the Presidency.

Meanwhile, the writer expressed concerns about actions allegedly taken by Dennison as well as the conduct of other senior management officials.  

“The structure of the commission is constantly adjusted to allow the friends of the acting commissioner to be installed in management positions,” the writer said, while citing appointments and salary upgrades that were reportedly made without the prior approval of the Board of Directors. “These positions were not previously implemented in the commission’s structure, and should have been advertised prior to any appointments,” it added.

The writer also noted that questions about misconduct of the individuals had been raised prior to their appointments.

The writer further told the president that issues of misconduct and fraud that had been reported are left unattended and the alleged perpetrators continue to function as normal.

“The situation is really frightening because one of the [designation given]… was fingered in falsifying information submitted to the finance division to allow a suspected family member to receive benefits for which they were not eligible, while the acting manager of [department identified] was fingered in fraud at GRA some years ago, and notwithstanding red flags raised about this in relation to his access to all digital information of the commission… this staff was quickly promoted…,” the writer said.

 A number of other allegations were levelled against Dennison and other senior GGMC personnel, including a Board functionary who it was alleged has engaged in corrupt transactions.

“Also very apparent is that the acting commissioner does not give sufficient support to a number of important recommendations of some senor staff, and if ever heeded or implemented, it’s only after tiresome lobbying and representation…This is a significant disadvantage in moving the organisation forward, because many of the recommendations we speak of are policy oriented, and can help to strengthen the ability of the commission to carry out its mandate,” the letter said.   

The writer seemed to hint at firing Dennison as a plea was made for the allegations to be investigated. “Mr President, we do not hold the view that one must ultimately be caught in skullduggery for them to be removed from a position of trust, as many are skillful enough to avoid this. On the contrary, should public officials fail in providing good leadership in addition to other deficiencies and destructive maneuvers mentioned above, this provides sufficient grounds for their removal,” the letter said.

Precipitous

Trotman told Stabroek News that it was only on Friday that he saw the report of the investigation into the allegations, which was sent to him a few weeks ago by GGMC Compliance Director Derrick Lawrence, whom he had designated to carry out the investigation. The minister said that he wants to meet Lawrence and Chairman of the GGMC Board Stanley Ming before commenting to the press. 

“I received a copy of the preliminary report [Friday] night, which I am told, was sent a few weeks ago, but was not seen by me. I would need to meet with Mr Lawrence and Mr Ming before saying [anything] about its contents,” he said.

Trotman further explained that he would also be awaiting a report from Jamaican consultancy firm A-Z Consultants Inc, which was hired by his ministry to conduct an analysis of the three agencies which falls under his ministry—the GGMC, the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Guyana Gold Board—and make recommendations for their restructuring and modernisation.

“It should be stated that we are also awaiting the Inception Report from the firm A-Z Consulting Inc on the restructuring of the GGMC and that is expected before December 31. Cabinet had ordered the restructuring, which had challenges in getting going,” he said. 

“I won’t want the Board to take any precipitous action before that report is received and studied. I would wish to receive Mr Lawrence’s final report and combine it with the findings and recommendations of the restructuring report,” he added.

Meantime, Trotman said that the letter was nothing new as staff of the GGMC would periodically write anonymous complaints against each other and send them to the president, who would ask him to investigate.

He said that the complaints formed part of the reason the ministry was looking at restructuring not only GGMC but the two other agencies.

Last month, the MNR gave an update of the restructuring process. “Given its mandate to explore, develop and sustain the natural resources of our country, the ministry has continuously taken action to review and update policies and the functioning where necessary, to ensure the sustainable exploration and development of the nation’s resources,” a statement from the ministry said.

“The ministry and by extension, the Government of Guyana, in efforts to continue the advancement of the country and the natural resources sector’s management, has decided to move forward with acquiring recommendations on the restructuring and modernisation of all three Agencies within its policy remit; the GGMC, GFC and GGB,” it had said.

The ministry said that the processes were approved by Cabinet and have been ongoing for many months.

“No one has been dismissed and the purposes of these consultancies are not meant to target any individual in any agency, and in fact, are grounded in strong management principles, which are to ensure that these state agencies are aligned with the government’s vision for the future,” the statement said.

With regards to the GGMC, it said that to ensure preparedness for the emergence of a new and green economy, it was imperative that the commission’s role and functioning be scrutinised to ensure that it was ready for the transition.

“In 2017, it was therefore decided that there is to be a thorough review of the commission’s operating procedures, structure and functions. With the discovered oil and the need for GGMC’s Petroleum Division to transition into the soon to be established Petroleum Commission, and the opening of new areas for exploration, it is appropriate that the agency adapts its efficiency and is better able to come into line with international standards and practices. This restructuring will allow the GGMC to continue to provide effective stewardship of the country’s mineral resources,” the statement said.