The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE Royal Bahamas Police Force’s contradiction of Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin that law enforcement was not yet investigating fraud in her ministry raises questions of trust and is “unacceptable”, according to FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

Dr Minnis questioned who Bahamians could trust given this revelation, coupled with the PLP’s track record of turning a blind eye to corruption.

He accused the party of awarding lucrative government contracts to their allies and supporters and went on to suggest that the RBPF was also in this category.

He said this matter should be taken out of the hands of politicians and placed in the purview of an independent public prosecutor.

Dr Minnis’ comments came a day after police confirmed to The Tribune that they had yet to begin any investigations into the Department of Social Services or the Road Traffic Department. 

Both government departments were recently probed by Auditor General Terrence Bastian and found to have systematic problems, including fraud and misappropriation of funds among other serious inefficiencies.

“What is this government waiting for? Days have passed, and hours have trickled by since the public learned of the misappropriation of public funds and potential public corruption in the Departments of Social Services and Road Traffic,” Dr Minnis said.

“To date, this government has failed to turn over the information with respect to Social Services, nor has it requested the police to investigate these acts. It is mind boggling to the people that are forced to witness more of the same from the PLP leadership.

“As recent as today, the police have contradicted Minister Melanie Griffin who claims to have turned over the necessary information to the police, but they say they have received nothing, nor have they been requested by the government to do anything. Who must the people trust, the PLP who has a track record of turning a blind eye to corruption as they award lucrative government contracts to their allies and supporters, or our own police force?

“The people are demanding accountability, they want answers.  Yet the PLP continues to serve us warmed over political attacks and attempts at misdirection.  This is unacceptable. 

“We demand that the PLP government turn over to the police, all of the scandalous information from both the Department of Social Services and Road Traffic Department today. No more lying, no more cover up, no more dragging their feet. Let the police do their job and stop obstructing them.” 

Dr Minnis said the PLP has proven time and time again that they will only act in a manner beneficial to them.

For this reason, Dr Minnis said the FNM will continue to stand with the people and call out leaders who have allowed corruption to creep into every aspect of our society. 

On Tuesday, Minister Griffin suggested that someone was fired for the suspicious shredding of documents highlighted in the Auditor General’s report on the department.

In the AG’s report for the period July 2013 and June 2015, Mr Bastian said the destruction of government documents at the Department of Social Services raised questions about whether fraud was perpetuated.

Asked about this, Mrs Griffin said: “The auditor had a concern about the shredding of documents going way back as far as 2010. We were not in office at that time and it seems to have been continued so definitely steps have to and have already been taken to ensure that something like that does not continue.”

Pressed on what steps have been taken, she said: “There are rules and regulations in the services that speak to what should happen to documents that must be shredded or are outdated. We have to ensure and we will ensure that those rules and regulations are carried out.”

Asked if anyone had been fired for shredding the documents, she said: “Immediately we found there were inconsistencies. One person was dismissed; other two were put on administrative leave and subject to the rules and regulations of the public service. In addition to this, the matter has been handed to the police and they will do their job.”

However, it’s not clear that anyone has been fired for suspiciously shredding documents.

Mr Bastian’s report noted that one staff member was terminated from the department and two others were placed on administrative leave – but this was done not because they shredded documents; it was done because they engaged in food coupon fraud, using coupons intended for welfare recipients for personal use.

As for the police investigation into that fraud, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson and Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander said that authorities are not yet investigating the matter.