At elected leaders’ discretion, the government awarded nearly $23 million in assistance grants between January 2019 and May 2022 without adequate accountability or transparency, including more than $200,000 to one …
March 16, 2023
June 30, 2022
‘Unfettered discretion’ out the door for grants
Assistance grants that were formerly disbursed at elected officials’ discretion will now be administered by the Social Development Department after the Commission of Inquiry blasted the existing system for a …
Continue reading “‘Unfettered discretion’ out the door for grants”
May 25, 2022
COI: Halt assistance grants straightaway
In 2009, government auditors blasted the House of Assembly Assistance Grants Programme for a lack of transparency and accountability, noting that legislators had approved constituents’ funding requests for items including …
May 12, 2022
UPDATE: Guv announces criminal probes advised by COI
Governor John Rankin has instructed Police Commissioner Mark Collins to launch several criminal investigations recommended by the recently published Commission of Inquiry report. The investigations will probe four areas, Mr. …
Continue reading “UPDATE: Guv announces criminal probes advised by COI”
July 23, 2021
Clerk: HOA was ‘overwhelmed’ with Covid applications
The Commission of Inquiry called House of Assembly Clerk Phyllis Evans to testify on July 14, asking her why incomplete applications for pandemic aid were accepted, how ministers decide who …
Continue reading “Clerk: HOA was ‘overwhelmed’ with Covid applications”
July 17, 2021
COI interrogates former premier on belongership
The Commission of Inquiry questioned former Premier Dr. Orlando Smith last week about belongerships that Cabinet allegedly awarded improperly just before the start of his 2011- 2019 tenure as premier. …
Continue reading “COI interrogates former premier on belongership”
June 17, 2021
Inquiry probes Registry of Interests, assistance grants
Focusing on elected officials’ financial interests and how they go about allocating $1.8 million each year in assistance grants, the Commission of Inquiry resumed public hearings again this week. COI …
Continue reading “Inquiry probes Registry of Interests, assistance grants”
