Former Sports Director on bail over alleged theft of state assets

Audit report Police probe

…as questions raised over how Jones qualified for $4.9M SLED grant

As the Police launch a probe into the Auditor General’s report which highlighted that some $4.9 million of taxpayers’ dollars were spent to purchase equipment for a non-existent barbershop, Former Director of Sports under the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU) Coalition Government, Christopher Jones, was released on bail.

Jones was arrested on Friday morning and taken to the Diamond Police Station, but was later released on $100,000 station bail pending a probe into the alleged theft of state assets.
On Thursday, Police went to Jones’s Lot 609 Conciliation Street, Tucville, Georgetown home to conduct a search for state assets.
Police, in a release, stated that a report was made against Jones, alleging that he was in possession of state assets valuing over $4M. Upon receiving the report, ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) proceeded to investigate by going to the residence of Jones, where he was contacted and told of the purpose of their visit.
According to Police, upon arrival at the residence, the ranks observed items at the home fitting the description of the items reported to be state assets. The Police further stated that contact was made with Jones, who was told of the allegation but refused the lawmen permission to search his property, claiming that they were not in possession of a search warrant.

By then several officials, including executives of both the Peoples National Congress (PNC) and the Alliance for Change (AFC), turned up at the property as Police stood guard. The ranks nevertheless conducted their operation and removed the items.
According to audit documents seen by Guyana Times, Regional Administration received an Inter/Intra Departmental Warrant (IDW) 6/2019 dated June 19, 2019, from the Social Protection Ministry valuing $4.985 million for the procurement of equipment for barber shop under Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED).
The SLED programme works by distributing interest-free cash grants to registered groups and associations needing the economic boost to improve their economic enterprises.
According to the audit report, a Financial Return presented revealed that the full amount was expended as at December 31, 2019. An audit examination of the relevant records revealed that two payment vouchers to the value of $4.084M and $900,999 were issued for the purchase of the equipment.
Audit documents further discovered that approval was not granted from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for the procurement of a Condensing Unit valuing $1.528 million. However, audit checks revealed that the item was still purchased and supplied.
Additionally, audit investigations revealed that the cheque was paid to the supplier on October 2, 2019, but the time of reporting in August 2020, items to the value of $900,999 were not supplied.
Meanwhile, the audit report stated that a physical inspection of the assets purchased revealed that items valuing $4.084M were still not put into use, since these items were stored in a room at the residence of the beneficiary, Christopher Jones.
Further, the audit report stated that details of a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Social Protection Ministry, dated May 22, 2019, states that the items were to be procured for the beneficiary who ‘operates’ a barber shop.
However, at the time of the physical verification, it was discovered that the beneficiary does not operate a barber shop, since the construction of the said barber shop has not yet commenced.

Questions over approval
On Friday, after being released on station bail, Jones claimed that he had applied for assistance under the SLED programme under the then Social Protection Ministry, and the application was approved. However, questions are being raised regarding the process that was used to determine that Jones, a senior Government official at the time, was qualified for such assistance.
There has been widespread criticism over the fact that Jones, as Director of Sport, benefited from the programme which is intended to help vulnerable persons and registered groups and associations needing the economic boost to improve their economic enterprises.

Amna Ali justifies
When contacted on Friday, former Social Protection Minister Amna Ally stated that Jones was qualified to benefit from the programme. she noted that persons who wish to engage in entrepreneurial development can apply. She, however, did not address the issue of how Jones, whose salary as a senior Government official was in a higher earning ceiling, qualified for a programme was that was intended to help vulnerable persons seeking to improve their economic standing.
She, however, went on to say: “Whatever is the amount of money is via the region, and the region goes through the normal procedures; that is: Tender Board procedures and all of that; and that had happened. The REO of Region Four can attest to it.”

Granger defends
Meanwhile, Peoples National Congress (PNC) leader David Granger on Friday said the incident was unwarranted, and was an unlawful deprivation of the rights and freedom of Jones. He claimed the incident is harassment and politically inspired ‘witch-hunting’ of current and former public servants. (G1)