CJIA Board wants AFC to produce evidence of alleged fraud
July 19, 2014, By KNews, Filed Under News, Source - Kaieteur News
The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA)’s Board of Directors is calling on the Alliance For Change (AFC) to make available “to the appropriate authorities,” evidence with regards to the alleged fraud at the entity.
This call comes on the heels of AFC’s announcement that it will continue investigations into the recent discovery of “major skullduggery” at the agency.
During a recent party press conference, AFC Member of Parliament, Cathy Hughes informed the media of reports received which indicate that fraud is happening at the highest levels of authority at CJIA.
Hughes had said that “very senior officials” may be using their office to perpetuate fraud against the company.
The Member of Parliament said that a senior employee who had acted in collusion with an “imposter” to defraud the company is still on the job. She disclosed that, that particular employee had identified his “partner in crime” as a contractor to whom large sums of money were made payable.
Hughes said that the employee acts in collusion with senior colleagues in a tight knit circle committing various acts of fraud against the company, including siphoning off building supplies for the construction and renovations of the homes of the same senior officials. Reports also point to a possible abuse of duty free concessions.
In a missive yesterday, the Board expressed its opinion that “these malicious allegations” may be the work of an aggrieved senior employee who was recently disciplined for a series of improper conduct.
The release stated that this aggrieved employee may have exhausted all appeals made to various persons and took this avenue as a last ditch to discredit the Corporation.
“The Board is therefore urging the AFC to be cautious about this matter and not to buy into the allegations being made. Instead, the party should directly engage the Board of Directors and/or the police on any alleged evidence it has.”
Hughes had told Kaieteur News that apart from the fact that all revenues received by the CJIA are not paid into the Consolidated Fund as they should be, these smaller acts of fraud are no less illegal and must be thoroughly investigated.
According to Hughes, her party is gathering evidence of a multitude of wrongdoings at the airport.
The AFC Member of Parliament said, that while it is understood that employees fear victimization if they should report what is happening at the airport, “we call on them to speak and help stop fraud.”
Kaieteur News had questioned if the AFC is aware of any similar occurrences with the ongoing expansion project, but Hughes responded in the negative. She said however, that she wouldn’t doubt it.
Hughes alluded to the famous “toilet bowl” deal for the expansion project.