Dr Naresh Singh, the Guyanese man at the centre of concerns over a conflict of interest in a Canada-funded Caribbean project tonight disclosed that he had been appointed the new Deputy Caricom Secretary General and he denied being involved in any impropriety.
Caricom has not yet announced a replacement for Lolita Applewhaite. Singh’s announcement appears to have been precipitated by reports in the Canadian and local media that he was the person at the centre of a conflict of interest matter. Canadian Overseas Co-operation Minister Julian Fantino has referred the matter to the public sector integrity commissioner. The matter relates to a watchdog report on the Canadian International Development Agency and Singh’s subsequent departure from the agency and employment at a Caribbean project also funded by CIDA.
After he referred the matter to the public integrity commissioner on Thursday, Fantino announced that further finding for the project would be suspended.
Singh’s statement follows.
In response to misleading and incorrect statements in the media, Mr. Naresh Singh, newly appointed Deputy Secretary General at CARICOM set the record straight by making the following statements:
“With more than 30 years of experience as an international development specialist, senior manager and policy adviser, I am very dismayed at the unproven allegations that have been circulating in the media.”
“I left CIDA to continue my work in international development in the Caribbean region, under the auspices of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) The short consulting contracts in international development with the United Nations undertaken during my private time while employed at CIDA were permitted by CIDA rules at the time, as long as I received advance clearance.
I failed to obtain clearance for two or three consultancies of two or three days duration, for which I accept full responsibility. In execution of my consultancies I received a very small number of isolated emails and conference calls during business hours which were inappropriate. At no time did I intentionally break the rules or attempt to enrich myself at the expense of the Canadian taxpayer.”
“The recent suggestion that I may have been in a conflict of interest while at FMC are mystifying.”
“Any suggestion that I left the Caribbean Local Economic development Programme (CARILED) because of media inquiries is totally untrue. I resigned from the position of Programme Director at CARILEAD in order to accept an appointment as Deputy Secretary General at CARICOM. My CARILED superiors were aware that I had applied for the CARICOM position and supported me throughout the hiring process that lasted nearly 5 months.”
“I look forward with great anticipation to beginning my work at CARICOM.”
