Forensic Audits of GPL, GEA, GRDB show significant financial irregularities

The government will finally be moving to take action against persons found culpable of mismanagement at the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) before its assumption to office.

During a Post Cabinet Press Conference on Thursday afternoon, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman stated that the forensic audits into the entities have revealed a number of financial irregularities.

“We noticed that over a period of three or four years this agency had passed through it over half a billion USD coming through the Petrocaribe Fund and Minister within the Ministry who had made a presentation to cabinet just some of what seems to be glaring anomalies and what could be some serious financial situations involving loans without any traceable signs of these loans being approved by a Board or whether there being any promissory notes accompanying them,” said Trotman.

According to Trotman there were also instances of persons within the GRDB using money from the agency to trade in foreign currency.

He noted too that a number of top officials at the Agencies resigned following the 2015 General and Regional Elections but it was emphasised that if anyone is found culpable, including persons who would have resigned, they will face the law.

When asked by News Room if persons are found to have been engaged in illegality agencies would be swiftly prosecuted, he noted that “the alacrity at which Minister within the Ministry has moved to the police should tell us that we expect some fast movement particularly with this one.”

In addition, the Minister said Government will be mulling at the idea of lending budgetary support to the Guyana Police Force so that the hiring of more detectives or private security firms could be examined, given the exigencies that currently exist within the Force.

 Trotman said Minister with responsibility for GPL David Patterson will take charge of that investigation, while Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan will take the lead with the GRDB and GEA.