SOCU to be called in as forensic audit ongoing into SLED programme

…as probe finds $165M channelled through Rupununi organisation

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall has revealed that a forensic audit into the Sustainable Livelihoods and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme is ongoing, with the possibility of the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) being called in as the probe continues.
During the budget estimates, the Minister referred to the SLED programme. According to him, persons have benefitted from the receipt of millions of dollars from the SLED programme, including Members of Parliament (MPs). This is despite the grant being intended to reach the most vulnerable and those in need.
“We are currently conducting a forensic audit of the programme during the course of the administration of the APNU/AFC. And to give you some tid-bits of what we have found, it will be egregious when Mr. Norton hears of who amongst his cohort, how many of them have benefitted, some in the millions, some in the tens of millions. And in one case, through some organization set up in the Rupununi, (almost) $165 million.”
Dharamlall went on to hint that the Special Organised Crime Unit could be engaged by the Government to pursue the matter. In fact, he noted that he would be “surprised” if SOCU doesn’t take action against those who pilfered from the grant. The Minister meanwhile explained that the distribution of grants from the SLED programme would be intensified this year.
“We have embarked – as part of our commitment to regional transformation, and more particularly the transformation of our villages – President Ali made a commitment in 2020 to make sure small businesses benefit as much as possible, and small people, many of whom are single mothers and vulnerable, benefit from grants such as these. So, during the course of this year, we will intensify the distribution of grants across the country. Unfortunately, in the last Government, it was a handful that benefitted, now the masses will benefit,” Dharamlall said.
In 2020, Dharamlall had revealed that over $250 million from the SLED fund could not be accounted for. In fact, he had noted that much of the paperwork ended up at the Haags Bosch dumpsite.
“SLED had no system when we got into Government, so a system will be put in place. It is apparent that, in the last administration of SLED, there was no criteria in terms of its implementation.
And that is why you find high officials of the last regime benefitting to the tune of millions of dollars. That is why you find that over $250 million cannot be accounted for. And that is why you will find that those who misspent the resources of the taxpayers are going to be held accountable,” Dharamlall had informed the House.
The SLED programme, which was implemented through the former Social Protection Ministry, is a programme which was supposed to give grants to cooperatives and friendly societies to equip them to engage in sustainable entrepreneurial ventures. Specifically, it was supposed to be used to uplift disadvantaged youths. In his 2023 Budget Speech, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh had announced that the SLED and other programmes would benefit from a $13.5 billion allocation.