Questions are now being raised over whether National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) chairman had the authority to spend thousands of dollars on private security measure for himself, in the wake of alleged death threats made against him last year.
The question arose after over $100, 000 was allegedly paid for full electronic sweeps of chairman Marvin Johncilla office and the company’s corporate box at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain. A further $89, 000 was paid for a personal driver/security for Johncilla.
The developments took place after the chairman wrote to an NLCB board director alleging he had received death threats. Guardian Media understands that Johncilla subsequently hired private security at least two months before he officially wrote to the director about the threats.
The letter, which Guardian Media obtained a copy of, is dated August 14, 2016, and was written by Johncilla and addressed to director Ricardo Borde.
In it, Johncilla asked the NLCB to consider short-term support for the provision of the security service until December 2016. Johncilla said he received direct and indirect threats which he believed were linked to the suspension of recurrent sponsorships by the NLCB.
The letter read: “Since the suspension of recurrent sponsorships, I have received direct and indirect messages as to the consequences of my facilitating those suspensions. In other words, I have been directly and indirectly threatened. I did not report those concerns to the police. I did however, raise those concerns with highly-trained, state security officials, who advised that I retain some form of security support.”
Guardian Media obtained copies of nine invoices from Guard and Response Services Ltd to the NLCB, which claim payment from June 16 to November 23, 2016. Some $89,437.50 was paid by the NLCB to the firm for driving/security services for Johncilla. Several of these invoices also listed “patrol of chairman property Monday to Saturday” under the description of services.
Johncilla also had electronic sweeps done on some NLCB offices and its corporate box at the Queen’s Park Oval on three occasions at almost $114,000. No irregularities or devices were found during any of the sweeps.
Guardian Media contacted Johncilla about the security measures and the alleged threats to his life.
He responded: “For security purposes I will prefer not to comment on that.”
When asked if a report was made to the police about the threats, he said: “Ms. Ramnarine, I cannot direct you to any other source. All I am saying is that I am not at liberty to comment on the question you asked me.”
On the issue of payments made for personal security for himself, he said: “Once again I cannot comment for security purposes.”
Guardian Media also contacted Minister of Finance Colm Imbert, the NLCB’s line minister, but calls to his cellphone went unanswered.
