Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has referred the damning report of the Life Sport audit—including alleged fraud, theft, questionable payment and other criminal activities—to the Police Commissioner, Director of Public Prosecutions, Integrity Commission and the head of the Public Service.
Immediately terminating the programme yesterday because of the deep irregularities, Persad-Bissessar told the Parliament, “For those who really sought to improve their lives and positively benefit from this programme, I am sorry that this had to happen.”
She announced, “I have accepted the recommendations of the audit committee and the Attorney General has been instructed to turn the report over to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioner of Police to investigate, detain and prosecute those guilty to the fullest extent of the law.
“Given the fact that the Central Audit Committee has raised the possibility of complicity by ministry officials, the report will be sent to the Integrity Commission and the head of the Public Service for further investigation, consideration and action.” Persad-Bissessar delivered a statement on the issue ahead of continuation of debate on an Opposition PNM motion on the controversial programme. The motion sought to censure Sport Minister Anil Roberts for the programme.
Following concerns about alleged criminal infiltration into and irregularities in Life Sport, on May 24 Persad-Bissessar ordered the audit, removing Life Sport from Roberts’ Sport portfolio and placing it under Gary Griffith’s National Security Ministry. Both ministers were present for the PM’s statement yesterday. Persad-Bissessar said the report revealed a number of problems.
She said these included procurement breaches, a deviation from the mandates of Cabinet, the involvement of some people in criminal activities, fraud by suppliers, theft of equipment, breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act and poor control and monitoring by ministry officers. “The Audit Committee also raised questions regarding possible complicity by officers of the ministry, given the widespread nature of the breaches,” she added.
“What is most shocking and disappointing is the fact that given the usually stringent nature of the bureaucratic processes in obtaining approvals for projects, implementing programmes and monitoring progress, no action was taken to halt or prevent what the Audit Committee found.”
The PM added, “This programme was conceptualised and formulated as part of a comprehensive programme to try to roll back the tide against criminals and criminality in our country. It was specifically focused on saving the lives of young men who needed to be protected from the criminals who routinely preyed on them, and helping to shape positive futures for these young people.
“We see our young men as future fathers, future role models, future professionals, who need care, attention and opportunities. The criminals see them as pawns and as persons who could front crime and violence. To the criminal elements, these young men are a means to an end, and are, in their view, expendable.” She continued, “And this is where I must express my personal deep disappointment and dismay that a programme that was intended to save lives and build lives was used by a group of people for fraud and personal gain.
“This group of people who derailed the good intentions of the programme have in effect given their support to criminality, in some cases, rather than to our young people.” Though it had been halted, she said, other working programmes would be instituted to provide opportunities for people to build their lives. One important message stemming from the report, she said, was the urgent need for procurement laws to become fully operationalised.
Stressing the importance of government’s upcoming procurement legislation, she added, “I’ve stood firm. Progress in our country must be underlined by integrity and benefit for the population. Any person or any group who seeks to subvert the law and the public benefit will pay the full price of the law.”
What the auditors said
The 54-page report from the Finance Ministry’s central audit team concluded there was poor monitoring and control of the programme by the Sport Ministry, there may have been breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act—and police information suggested criminal elements may have supervised and co-ordinated Life Sport.
The auditors’ report noted widespread breaches of proper procurement practices, that Cabinet approval was not strictly adhered to and that people at the co-ordinating level may have been involved in criminal activity. Also noted were several instances of fraudulent activity by suppliers to the programme, that there may have been widespread theft of equipment, and that exorbitant and questionable payments were made in several instances.
The auditors concluded: “From the review it is clear the Life Sport Programme has a number of irregularities judging from the widespread absenteeism, absence of proper procurement practices, overpayment for goods and services and possible criminal activities ranging from fraud (where money has been invoiced and paid but goods and services not supplied) to theft and possible breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act.
About the programme
In August 2011, Cabinet agreed to implementation of the Life Sport programme by the Ministry of Sport, through the Sport Company of T&T. It was launched in June 2012 and started in August 2012. Up to the time of the audit, the programme was being run in 43 centres throughout T&T, for young men 16 -25.
The audit team examined the programme’s payment process, centres, co-ordinators, coaches, participants, catering services, janitorial services, maintenance of recreation grounds, refurbishment of community centres, rentals, purchases, vocational training (trade component) and EBeam Interact Ltd.