Embattled Fire Chief Kalamadeen Edoo has declared that the corruption allegations being levelled against him are “false” and designed to tarnish his reputation.
“The allegations against me are false allegations. I was never involved in no corruption. It’s a false allegation levelled against me which [has] caused my reputation and everything to go down just like that,” Edoo told the Sunday Stabroek in an invited comment yesterday.
He refused to elaborate any further on the allegations as he explained that he is engaging a lawyer who will “do the rest”.
Edoo is currently at the centre of an investigation into a number of financial malpractices at the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) headquarters.
One day after the allegations surfaced, Edoo was sent on pre-retirement leave.
Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn previously told this newspaper that Edoo received a letter with the instruction on Thursday.
Edoo yesterday confirmed that his pre-retirement leave takes effect from tomorrow.
In a letter sent to him by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas, Edoo was instructed to hand over to Deputy Fire Chief, Gregory Wickham on Friday.
Documents circulated on Wednesday and seen by this newspaper allege that financial malpractices took place under Edoo’s watch.
Stabroek News understands that investigations uncovered discrepancies in relation to the issuance of petroleum licences and safety certificates and related payments.
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 the licences and 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 post 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 licences and 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 receipts that 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 had confirmed to this newspaper last Wednesday that an “investigation” and “review” were ongoing into the irregularities which were unearthed during an audit.
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.
