The Ministry of the Presidency has not yet received $19.108 million worth of emergency CCTV system supplies, paid for in full since December, 2015, for the National Intelligence Centre using monies from the Contingency Fund.
This was revealed yesterday at a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing, which was also told that that the supplier, California-based company Moonblink Communications, has declared bankruptcy.
Pressed by PAC Chair-man Irfaan Ali on the resort to the Contingency Fund for the purchase, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary (PS) Abena Moore stated that such monies are meant to be used for “urgent” and “unforeseen” matters. While she tried to argue that the procurement of the CCTV systems were in fact urgent, this claim was challenged by committee member Juan Edghill, who asserted that the situation could not have been so urgent if so many months had passed and the items have still not been received.
To compound matters, it was related that there was no bond in place to guarantee that the contractor would fulfill its end of the deal.
However, Moore stated that it was not the first time that the ministry had dealt with the contractor. In fact, the entities were said to have had a relationship spanning approximately six years. She, however, also revealed that Moonblink has since claimed bankruptcy.
The PS stated that the Minister of State Joseph Harmon has been engaged to assist in the matter, and that he is currently in talks with the Minister of Legal Affairs about it. Addition-ally, the ministry is also attempting to engage with the American Embassy for support.
Ali granted the ministry until next Wednesday to provide a full report on the matter.
According to the AG’s 2015 report, $107 million was allotted for the procurement of office equipment and a Contingency Fund Advance in the sum of $48.626 million was received, bringing the total funds available to $155.626 million. The report further stated that according to the Appropriation Account, amounts totaling $144.887 million were expended, including $19.108 million, which was paid to the overseas supplier on December 14, 2015 for the procurement of supplies and installation of CCTV systems at the National Intelligence Centre.
In another instance noted in the AG’s report, $11.679 million of an allocated $12 million was spent on fencing and the installation of perimeter lights at Building E, Castellani Compound, where the National Intelligence Centre is based. After physical measurements were taken, it was discovered that the total overpayments amounted to $2,307,700.
This contract, like several others, was sole sourced. No performance bond was in place, and according to Moore, although the contractor has agreed to repay the amount, he has indicated that he is out of work and cannot presently repay.
