THE Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has called on the David Granger Administration to publish information pertaining to the 28 allegedly missing state-owned vehicles. In a statement to the press, the PPP/C yesterday said it noted with dismay, “the big noise being made by the Granger de-facto Administration, fuelled by sections of the media, about missing state-owned vehicles amounting to over 28.”
The PPP/C stated that Minister of the State, Joseph Harmon is purported to have said: “We have a bigger amount [of vehicles] missing across all Government ministries and agencies.”
The PPP/C is calling on Harmon to publish information showing the type and registration number of each vehicle, as well as the name of each ministry and agency to which the vehicles were attached.
The Party is also calling upon the Administration to publish the names of the “former Government officials who have been filling up their tanks and those of their families.”
During his weekly press briefing, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon disclosed that police investigations are continuing into the alleged misappropriation of state-owned vehicles; and he noted that eight from the Public Service Ministry have been returned.
He revealed that between June 19 and 20, five vehicles were returned, and “all except one drove in on their own steam.” Three vehicles were returned before June 19. The set of vehicles was reportedly transferred in the final days of the previous Administration at the behest of former Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford, to several individuals.
A State Asset Recovery Programme has been set up to ensure the return of state assets, wherever they may be located. The unit is headed by Professor Clive Thomas and persons who will function in that unit have been identified.
He said that offers to assist in this effort have even been obtained from persons residing overseas, “people who know where things are. In fact, every morning you [are] getting reports about two vehicles gone somewhere, they take off the number plate and somebody throw canvas over it, but we will get to all of them.” It was pointed out by Minister Harmon that in one day alone in May, 28 vehicles were transferred.
The State Asset Recovery Unit will examine all of the cases and decide on how they will proceed. “That is why I said to all persons who have Government assets to bring them in. I don’t want to come after you because I want to look forward.”
He emphasised that Government is interested in looking forward to the future and is not interested in looking back, “I don’t have time for looking back, so help me, help this Government in looking forward by bringing in the assets, because we’ll have to send people behind you if you don’t!”