Even as the public continues to clamour for a full, independent investigation into the Vehicle-gate Scandal and the operations of the Ministry of Public Works, some employees in the Ministry of Agriculture are begging for a similar probe.
Sources in the latter ministry tell REAL News they are upset over the alleged hire of a social-media influencer and are wondering what duties he will actually be performing to earn his reported Cabinet-approved salary.
They allege further that, while some staff are unable to get to their work sites because of the lack of transportation, this new hire has been assigned a vehicle for traveling.
They fear that this could be an opportunity for further abuse of a system in which some officers allegedly are receiving both a travel allowance and free fuel from the Government Motor Pool.
Some vehicles, they also claim, are carrying private license plates rather than the regulation “G” plates, thereby obscuring ownership and avoiding accountability.
All these irregularities need to be stopped, the fed-up sources say.
Even more alarming, however, the insiders are making allegations of financial impropriety in the Ministry of Agriculture.
They refer to two bank accounts that few staff members knew about – one related to Mango Fest and the other to the sale of sea-island cotton – and claim both held significant balances.
Accordingly, the sources are asking for transparency in the handling of these accounts by both the Ministries of Agriculture and of Finance.
Meanwhile, the United Progressive Party’s political leader, Jamale Pringle, said, yesterday, October 28, that Public Works employees have alleged that the illegal trafficking in aggregates dwarfs the current scandal involving the purchase and distribution of vehicles.
Hence, the Opposition party says it will continue to press for Maria Browne to step down as minister of Works until an independent investigation into her ministry is undertaken and concluded.
At present, the Party reports that a picket and a protest motorcade are being planned for the upcoming week, and outraged taxpayers will be encouraged to support these activities.
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A REAL News Report