Fire Chief Kalamadeen Edoo, who is at the centre of an investigation into a number of financial malpractices at the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) headquarters will be proceeding on pre-retirement leave.
This was confirmed by Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn who told Stabroek News that Edoo received a letter yesterday with the instruction.
“Mr Edoo is proceeding on his pre-retirement leave that’s what I know. I think in a day or two or something. He would have gotten some letter today,” Benn said.
Edoo yesterday continued to dodge questions about the allegations against him.
Contacted by Stabroek News yesterday morning, Edoo said he was in a meeting and asked to be contacted later.
However, several calls made to his phone at the requested time and even afterwards went unanswered.
In documents which were seen by this newspaper and which were circulated on Wednesday, the financial malpractices allegedly took place under the watch of Edoo.
Stabroek News understands that investigations uncovered that there were discrepancies in relation to the issuance and payment for Petroleum licences and Safety Certificates.
This was reportedly exposed after the revenues generated through these transactions could not be reconciled and there was no record that they were processed and issued.
According to the documents, the procedure for processing and issuing Petroleum License and Safety certificates required that all monies for these transactions be paid to the GFS Finance Department.
However, a number of staff members have since provided statements which confirmed that the policies were changed and new ones were implemented in April, 2021 shortly after Edoo took over the position of Chief Fire Officer.
Documents seen by this newspaper revealed that Edoo implemented new procedures which required that payments and processing for new and renewed Petroleum Licences and Safety Certificates be done directly though his office.
He reportedly claimed that this was done so that he could become acquainted with the holders of these licences.
Information also indicates that there were some changes in the prices paid for the licences and certificates. It is suspected that after payments are made, the holders of these documents were granted fake receipts which were not replicated in the GFS records.
The issue was previously raised during a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs in April, 2021 and those involved were warned to desist from such practices or they could face consequences but they continued.
Benn confirmed with this newspaper on Wednes-day that an “investigation” and “review” are ongoing into the irregularities which were unearthed during an audit.
In an invited comment yesterday, APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Geeta Chandan-Edmond told Stabroek News that the allegations levelled against Edoo warrant an investigation and necessary action/s should be taken based on the findings.
“These allegations must be subject to an investigation and the facts should be followed to their legal end. I trust that due process will be followed,” Chandan-Edmond said.
Chandan-Edmond said that the rules and statutes of the public service must always be maintained and upheld at all times. “There should be absolutely no consideration for discretion being applied for political reasons. Rules are rules. We have to maintain law and order in our society,” she said.
“The Chief Fire Officer and any other public officials must conduct themselves at all times in a professional manner and must hold themselves at high standards. Integrity and professionalism must be the hallmark in the lives of all public officials,” Chandan-Edmond added.
“Wrong-doing”
Chandan-Edmond said any findings of “wrong-doing” should not go unpunished.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said he has known Edoo to be an individual of “tremendous good character”. As such, he said he found it “strange” that Edoo would indulge in any wrong-doing.
“I thought it was very strange…It doesn’t ring true as to that kind of conduct coming from him,” he said.
Ramjattan said before he comments further, he would rather await further investigation into the allegations and a response from Edoo.
“.….I don’t know how this happened but I treat it as something…It is a matter which I wouldn’t want to deal with at this stage because I regard him as a true professional and really do not feel that is the man who would do them kind of things. I find it very strange that he would indulge in any wrongdoing because he was a total professional,” he explained.
Edoo assumed the post of Fire Chief in March, 2021.
He was sent on leave early in October last year in light of criticisms faced by the GFS over its performance in fighting the Brickdam Police Station blaze.
Weeks after, he returned to office without any clear directive as to whether any action was taken against him.
Prior to this, a number of firefighters had threatened to take court action against Edoo after he allegedly removed them from the promotion list for “disciplinary infractions” for which they were punished years earlier.
Firefighter, Neville Cumberbatch had filed a private charge against Edoo. He was released on $10,000 bail.
