While two fraud accused employees of the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC) reported to the Ministry of Local Government’s head office yesterday, local government officials could not say whether or not they were dismissed.
County superintendent, Maniram Mohess, and engineering and survey officer, Barry Samaroo, reported to the office of the permanent secretary. They were ordered to the Ministry’s Port-of-Spain office after they reported to work following Monday’s appearance at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court.
One of the men were said to be involved in a meeting to reconcile construction material worth million of dollars. That meeting had to be stopped by a municipal police officer.
Checker, Ian Gokool, who is also accused in the matter, showed up for work as well but was sent on leave by acting CEO Charmaine Dookie. One senior officer at the CTTRC would only say that both employees “were gone.”
When contacted yesterday, Dookie did not deny or confirm whether the men were suspended or fired, saying that she was a public officer and not allowed to speak to the media. She referred the question to CTTRC chairman Henry Awong, who she said was apprised of workers’ status.
However, Awong said while he knew Mohess and Samaroo reported to the permanent secretary, it was all he knew. He said he was unaware whether they were suspended but may know today.
Mohess, Samaroo, Gokool, Corporation CEO Carol Dyal and businessman Mahase Sookhai appeared before magistrate Christine Charles on Monday, charged with conspiring to defraud the CTTRC of $149,500.
The charges relate to a contract awarded for the installation of outdoor exercise equipment at the San Pablo Recreation Ground and Todd’s Road Activity Centre.
Meanwhile, Independent Liberal Party (ILP) alderman, Sunil Ramjitsingh, said Opposition representatives at the CTTRC were happy that Local Government Minister Franklin Khan ordered forensic audits into all regional corporations.
Ramjitsingh said they believed a detailed audit of the CTTRC was required urgently. Since media reports of the police arresting CTTRC employees and contractors linked to the corporation last week, he said they have received numerous phone calls from the burgesses, public officers and local government representatives from various political parties.
He said the callers shared some of their experiences and observations in their own regional corporations with respect to procurement of materials and services, from construction materials to simple services, such as catering. They also dealt with the issuing of contracts and accountability for materials.
“We believe these are critical areas that must be included in the audits. Further, we believe the audit should not just be an audit of the paper trails but that the quality of work done on contracts should also be examined to determine if the quality is satisfactory and if projects have been done according to the scope of works,” Ramjitsingh said.