Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Jermaine Figueira and committee member, PPP/C MP Juan Edghill yesterday clashed over a decision to withhold the names of the purchasers of derelict vehicles which had been the property of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs
At the time, the Auditor General’s 2017 report was being considered by Parliament’s PAC.
Informing Edghill that he was “out of order” as he sought to voice his concerns and questioned the rationale behind the decision while the chairman was on the floor, Figueira directed the technical staff to mute the Public Works Minister’s microphone.
In a heated back and forth Figueira said “I am chairing this meeting,” to which Edghill responded “But I am making a point and you are interrupting…”
Edghill after being allowed to speak accused the chairman and the members of the opposition side of the committee of suppressing information from being provided to the committee. He further opined that their decision to do so was linked to the fact that they have an interest in the matter.
Subsequent to Edghill’s question on who are the buyers of a Nissan Frontier and a Toyota Coaster bus, former Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson told the chairman that it was not a practice of the committee to release the names of such individuals. Figueira upheld that view, stating that after consulting with the Clerk of the PAC it was not permissible.
Patterson also objected to Edghill’s claim that he had an interest in the deal.
Edghill argued that the PAC was operating on a double standard by stating at previous meetings it would name negligent contractors, engineers and even persons who owed money to the government.
“…I want to put on record my total disagreement with inconsistent practices that have taken place at the PAC,” Edghill argued in disapproval of the chairman’s decision.
The Public Works Minister said he was seeking to establish who the buyers of the vehicles were since they were sold on a basis of expressions of interest.
“… you and your members have an interest in this matter…were the buyers members of staff, and/or related to members of the ministry? Or was [it] a government official?” Edghill questioned.
Acting Permanent Secretary (PS), Ryan Tulsiram and former PS Alfred King of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs were before the PAC.
During the perusal of the AG’s 2017 report, they were given the opportunity to provide an explanation for the sale of derelict vehicles under market value.
They were also asked to explain what led to the decision to not sell the vehicles to the highest responsive bidders.
King, who was PS during the period, in response to the committee stated that after months of trying to engage the successful bidders they signalled that they were no longer interested in purchasing the vehicles.
He said that since 2015/2016 they had been attempting to dispose of the vehicles that were stored at the Amerindian Hostel compound on Princes Street. It was urgent that they had the vehicles removed, King said as they had awarded a contract for the expansion of the facility.
Further, he explained to the committee that after approval was given to dispose of the vehicles by the then Finance Secretary Hector Butts, they even attempted to donate to vocational training institutions but after the institutes inspected the vehicles they declined.
Both King and Tulsiram stated that all procedures were followed in accordance with the financial circular.
King also explained to the committee that subsequent to the failure to have a successful bidders come forth, they were was a walk-in bid process and it was through this they received expressions of interest from prospective purchasers of the vehicles.
According to the AG’s 2017 report, the Ministry sold three non-serviceable vehicles below their marketed value.
The vehicles: a Toyota pick-up was sold for $50,000, the cost it was valued at, while a Nissan Frontier valued at a $100,000 was sold for $50,000 and the Toyota Coaster bus which was valued at $950,000 was sold for 301,000. King said that the Nissan Frontier was just a shell of the vehicle.
The bus in the bidding stage attracted a bid for $1M but after the first two bidders indicated they were no longer interested the bus was sold to the third responsive bidder.
