Business owners who say they are in the know are calling on Prime Minister Gaston Browne to investigate new claims that duty-free concessions are being abused.
In this latest round of allegations of corruption, the business people say that concessions granted to the Special Economic Zones created by the Browne Administration – one in particular – are being used regularly despite that Zone not even being in operation.
The claim is that connected persons are importing goods and equipment and are using a strategically placed ambassador to clear these things – free of all duties – at the Port.
Further, it is alleged that the practice is well known to certain Cabinet members, who – along with the middle man – are said to be enjoying financial benefits from those who receive the concessions.
Since Browne announced, on Saturday, February 14, that Johan Hesse has been relieved of his official duties – because he failed to report a payment connected to the Alfa Nero sale – one business owner is daring the finance minister to be fully transparent and investigate the reported abuse of concessions falling under his ministry.
If he fails to do so, the business person says, his termination of Hesse would simply have been “for the sake of appearances.”
Other business people are more openly cynical. They remind REAL News that no one implicated or caught in wrongdoing by the Browne Administration has ever been punished.
Instead – pointing to a number of other scandals, including Vehicle-gate, National Housing, Port Authority auctions, and Odebrecht – they note that such persons have been transferred, promoted, or allowed to retire with benefits.
Therefore, since Browne has said that Hesse has done nothing illegal, the business owners say the public should not be surprised to see him deployed in some other capacity soon.
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A REAL News Report