Starting from the high office of the Honourable Keith Rowley to Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute to most citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, everyone is calling for the Forensic Audit of Udecott. Rightfully so!
Then what?
If findings of corruption and wrongdoing are uncovered, will the wrongdoers be held accountable? Will anyone be brought to justice? Or, is this forensic audit going to be turned into another political stunt of deception and cover-up?
I am very skeptical that the government of Trinidad and Tobago is serious about exposing any corruption at Udecott, as the following example will prove.
A forensic audit was recently done by Price Waterhouse Coopers on another major state agency, The Tourism Development Company Of Trinidad and Tobago. Price Waterhouse Coopers found numerous irregulairities with TDC.
Some of the findings of PWC as reported in the Trinidad media state as follows:
The TDC did not have an approved marketing and campaigning policy/plan relating to the 2006 World Cup, this was confirmed by discussions with the marketing manager, and PWC's review of board minutes maintained by TDC's company secretary!
Reports of expenditure for the World Cup were not submitted to the board until after the world cup!
Based on discussions with the marketing manager of the TDC, PWC were informed that expenditure incurred for the 2006 World Cup was not analysed!
Minutes of the 20th board meeting, provide further confirmation that the total expenditure incurred was not approved by the board!
Decisions relating to the World Cup expenditure were made by a separate committee chaired by the Honourable Minister Chin-Lee. However, PWC could not assess whether the World Cup expenditure was approved by the Honourable Minister!
No other form of documentation was seen to indicate the Honourable Minister's approval!
Minutes of meetings held by the separate committee were not available for the public's review nor were presented at any board meetings as per matters documented in minutes relating to board meetings held up to February 2007!
A major Trinidadian business firm approached the TDC to secure funding for events to be hosted in Germany, they received a cheque in the amount $517,500. The cheque was signed by the TDC president and finance manager. PriceWaterhouseCoopers found that the cheque number and the person to whom the cheque was dispatched were not documented in the manual log maintained by the TDC!
Proof could also not be obtained that above mentioned firm did what they were paid to do.
As we can see clearly from this forensic audit, numerous major violations were happening at the TDC. What action has been taken against the TDC for their flagrant violations and abuse of their position? What action has been taken against the TDC for their absolute disregard of our laws, citizens of this country and our tax dollars? Are the management responsible for all these violations still in their positions today? Are they still abusing and misusing my tax dollars? Are they still misusing the huge budgets entrusted to them? Where is the accountability?
How much more abuse is going on right now?
Based on the above, I have no confidence that a forensic audit of Udecott will do anything to bring justice to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Much the same way nothing is being done to bring the management of the TDC to account for their clear abuse of this state agency. I can only expect that the same will happen with a forensic audit of Udecott.
If the Tourism Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago was a private company, the entire management would be terminated immediately and quite possibly face legal action.
I ask the Prime Minister, responsible ministers and government of Trinidad and Tobago to do what is expected of you. Show leadership and responsibility and take action against the corrupt ones in your government and these state agencies that are being abused. It is our inherent right as citizens of this land to demand this of you.
How is this country expected to move forward when individuals managing these major state agencies have agendas of their own and not of the country? I trust that this call to action will not fall on deaf ears. Enough is enough.
Pierre Small