The Ministry of Home Affairs this morning said that $320, 000 out of the $90 million police elections fund was allocated to Divisional Commander David Ramnarine and it provided a copy of the returned cheque dated November 26, 2011.
A press release stated that “as regard the allegations made by a Divisional Commander that he did not receive money from the Guyana Police Force for elections, the Guyana Police Force is in possession of the returned cheque in the sum of $320, 000 which the Ministry has been advised was endorsed by the Commander and encashed by his Divisional Finance rank”.
The copy of the Republic Bank cheque which was attached to the release was written in the name of “D. Ramnarine Asst. Commr” and prepared by the Guyana Police Force Central Welfare Fund, Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.
This is the Ministry’s latest effort to respond to allegations by Ramnarine that he had not received any money out of the $90 million which was allotted to feed ranks and for policing activities.
Stabroek News has since learnt that Ramnarine has proceeded on leave. Ramnarine had previously not responded to Stabroek News queries on this matter.
Police Public Relations Officer Ivelaw Whittaker had said in a statement that there was nothing sinister in the handling of the monies “as alluded to by the media.”
Whittaker said in a press release that the actual sum allotted to the police for elections duties was $51,008,000 and not the total $90,649,200.
The release was meant to set the record straight about publications in the print media concerning an alleged “missing $90M” allocated to the force during the last elections “and which have resulted from unofficial, unauthorized and misleading statements from a Police Divisional Commander….”
Whittaker noted that during 2011, the GPF prepared a budget of proposed activities for the elections, which was submitted to the Ministry of Finance through the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He said that subsequently, supplementary provisions were received during November 2011 in the sum of $90,649,200. He said that of this amount, a sum of $39,641,200 was for the shortfall on voted provisions and $51,008,000 was received under the line item 6261 – Local Travelling and Subsistence – which also caters for the feeding of police ranks during the inline period for elections.
He noted that $8M was to facilitate the cost of travelling expenses and the remaining $43,008,000 was brought to account by the police. He said too that a total sum of $32,491,822 was allocated to Police Divisions, Police Headquarters and Special Constabulary Headquarters to meet expenditure for the feeding of ranks.
He said that Police Divisions, Police Headquarters and the Special Constabulary Headquarters were allocated cash and commodities from the Police Consumers’ Cooperative Society Ltd and other outlets for the feeding of ranks.
