DIRECTOR General of the Ministry of Presidency has dispelled claims that Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibilities for Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes, transferred funds to a private individual.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had accused Broomes of transferring large sums from the Ministry of the Presidency to her children.
Harmon, however, said that he finds it unusual that money would be transferred from the state to a private individual.

“Money is transferred based on contracts and agreements and, in this case, on scholarships,” said Harmon, adding that the sums are most likely proceeds from a scholarship.

He said it could be proceeds from a scholarship arrangement in which the state provides funding and the parties, who benefit, are bound to provide a service at the end of the period of training.

We do not operate those kinds of slush funds as was operated by the previous administration,” Harmon contended.

He further noted that when the current administration got into office in 2015, they found funds which were left in Canada. Those funds, he said, were used for different purposes but they were under the scholarship funds.

“Whatever we do is done in a transparent and lawful manner…any funds will be made through scholarship arrangements to pay for tuition and boarding,” said the Director General.