CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Winston Brassington and his deputy Marcia Sharma have been sent on immediate administrative leave, pending the outcome of another audit on the entity to be completed by the Auditor General’s Office. Minister of State Joseph Harmon made the disclosure at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday at the Ministry of the Presidency in the presence of Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency Jaipaul Sharma, who has oversight over the forensic audits.
Investigations are also being conducted by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). The move by Cabinet to send Brassington and Sharma on administrative leave comes two days after Brassington declared that he has not broken any laws while serving in the post as CEO of NICIL.
Harmon explained that another audit will be conducted as government believes that there is enough reason for another probe.
“Cabinet considered the comprehensive report of the forensic audit and review of the actions of NICIL that was submitted by the consultant Dr Anand Goolsaran as well as a set of recommendations on the report submitted by the Honourable Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Mr Jaipaul Sharma. Cabinet considered the importance of the decisions that have to be made with respect to NICIL and the far reaching consequences of the recommendations of both the Honourable Minister and the consultant,” said the Minister of State.
Harmon said Cabinet deliberated on the report submitted to it and made several directives despite the fact that the Board of Directors of NICIL have not yet deliberated on the report.
“Those were that the report and accompanying notes of the consultant and advice of the minister be handed to the Commissioner of Police and the Special Organised Crime Unit for investigations as to whether there were any acts of criminality committed by those concerned and to take the process forward; that the said reports be submitted to the Auditor General for a more precise audit of the issues highlighted in the report; that the Minister of Finance gives instruction for a transaction audit of NICIL to be conducted and to facilitate all of these things; that the CEO and the deputy CEO of NICIL be sent on administrative leave immediately pending the outcome of the actions that have to be taken,” he added.
NO SECOND GUESSING
The Minister of State explained that there will be no second guessing on what the police will unearth during its investigation or what the forensic audit by the Auditor General’s office will find.
“What I can say is that there is in Cabinet’s view, sufficient information provided in that report for the agencies to whom these reports are sent to use it as a basis for further action. Cabinet is not saying that anybody should be charged. Cabinet is saying that based on the reports brought to it these reports should be sent to the competent agencies for them to explore further and for them to dig deeper and determine whether criminality exists and where they do find criminality they should take whatever action they deem necessary.”
Harmon added that Cabinet on Tuesday deliberated on the reports before it and will not act on “impulse.”
“Cabinet didn’t smell anything fishy. I think that it in a serious matter like this, you cannot act just on impulse, you have to act on what is before you and what is the evidence presented by the consultant to take actions based on that.”
He stressed that Cabinet has made a decision to have another audit done based on the information presented to it. “We are acting on what is before us…That is what informed Cabinet’s decision on the matter,” Harmon stated.
MATTER FOR POLICE
Asked whether he is concerned about the Brassington’s possible migration, Harmon replied: “These are matters are in the confines and purview of the police. If in fact the police in their investigations believe that someone is a witness or someone is likely to be charged based on their investigations, there are procedures for persons to be prevented from leaving the jurisdiction pending the investigation.”
Making reference to the Guyana Power and Light’s Deputy Chief Executive Office Aeshwar Deonarine who travelled abroad after seeking time from the government to repay some $27.8M that was transferred to his personal bank account from the PetroCaribe fund, Harmon said, “I am not aware that an active police investigation had started at the time when he left Guyana. But what I know for sure is an active police investigation is going on into that matter.”
On Monday, Brassington denied any illicit actions stating, “As far as I know I have not broken any laws and if Mr Goolsarran is suggesting it then I believe I have a clear defence on why what we did was properly done and we should not be held responsible.”
He accused former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran of divulging information before giving NICIL a chance to review the report prepared by him. Brassington said he is prepared to go before the courts to prove his innocence.
“I am willing to testify but you can’t bring a charge up on the basis of a law that has been clearly contradicted by all the lawyers and there is no evidence of it being broken,” he said
The move by government comes approximately two months after the forensic audit into NICIL was completed by Goolsarran and submitted to government for review. The former Auditor General had recommended that charges be laid.

By Ariana Gordon