COUNCILLORS of the Linden Town Council are accused of failing to follow procedures and rules of spending Central Government allocations.

Treasurer of the municipality, Audrey Nelson broke her silence about the issue when she appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday to clear the air about spending in the town. Nelson was blunt in her response to People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) member of the PAC, Bishop Juan Edghill, who asked why only $3 million was spent from the allocated $16 million in 2016.

“We have issues following the procedures,” the Treasurer said immediately, adding: “remember, the subvention programme that is being given, we had to stay within the ambits of the programme and spend the money within the ambits of the programme. They wanted us to go outside of the programme.”

She said they were only able to purchase equipment under the programme they had in 2016 because the council wanted to spend the money without the approval of the Ministry of Communities. The PAC was told that the council has not adhered to the advice of the treasurer who had suggested that in order to make additional purchases, they have to request a change in the work programme.

“Although we try to tell them that this is the process, they still want to go outside of it… remember, they are from other organisations so they tell themselves that we can do it the same way we do it outside,” said Nelson. Despite efforts to spend the money, she said the council could not do so. Nelson explained that the remaining $13 million is in a special bank account.

Chairman of the PAC, Irfan Ali commended the treasurer for being blunt, open and honest by following the rules and laws.