The Defence Board, at its meeting slated for later this month, may discuss Coastguard head Gary Beaton’s possible link to a vehicle transfer scandal which has already led to charges being instituted against two persons, including former public service minister Dr Jennifer Westford.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters at Parliament on Thursday that given that a senior army officer’s name has been mentioned, the onus is on the Chief of Staff to bring the matter to the attention of the Board.
“Of course the mechanism that triggers the Defence Board has to be a report from the Chief of Staff so the action starts with the Chief of Staff and a report generated by him,” he said.
Beaton’s name was one of five listed on a document, dated April 14, 2015, which was addressed to Khurshid Sattaur, Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), requesting the transfer of registration for three vehicles. The other names on the document were Westford (said to be Beaton’s partner), Wayne Walker, Delroy Lewis, and Osbert Mc Pherson.
As part of a police probe, Beaton had been questioned.
Harmon said when the Board met previously no determination had been made by the police and therefore it was not on the agenda.
“I suppose the Defence Board will have to consider it the next time it meets, which will be early in August. The Defence Board will consider it, but at this point in time I do not wish to pronounce because, as you know, the officer is implicated, he is not charged,” Harmon noted.
When asked what may be some of the options open to government, he said, “I would not wish to speculate because… matters of defence and security you do not speculate… you allow a process to basically run its course….”
Asked to explain for the benefit of the general public why this matter will have to be discussed at the level of the Defence Board, Harmon told reporters that once it has to do with a very senior officer, it is the responsibility of the Chief of Staff who sits on the Board to bring the matter there, “if he considers it to be serious enough that it affects defence or security arrangements of the country.”
He added that the general public must know that once a senior officer at that level is involved in anything it is a matter that will be considered at the Defence Board.
Asked what happens if the Chief of Staff does not raise the issue, he said, “I don’t think that the Chief of Staff and the army hierarchy are insensitive to issues of that nature.”
Westford and ministry employee Margaret Cummings were charged with several counts of forgery and attempted larceny and released on a total of $2 million bail. They were charged based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). It is unclear if charges are likely to be brought against anyone else.
Besides Cummings, another employee had been sent on leave to facilitate the probe.
Everyone named in the scandal had remained silent except for Lewis. Lewis, who is a driver attached to the ministry, had told Stabroek News that he was shocked that his name had become embroiled in the scandal. While professing his innocence, he said the vehicle he drove was returned on the day he proceeded on vacation leave. It was while he was on leave that the scandal was made public. According to the document sent to GRA, he was requesting a registration transfer for one vehicle; that vehicle was the one he used for work-related duties.
