Defence audit identifies more players in questionable contracts and transactions

As the audit continues at the Ministry of Defence, Love News understands that the preliminary findings are pointing to several other people who may have played a role in several other questionable contracts and transactions.  Auditor General Maria Rodriguez confirmed that additional players have surfaced, but she would not identify them or say exactly what auditors have found. She stressed that the work is still underway and no final conclusions have been reached.  The audit team hopes to wrap up its investigation by the end of September. It is only then that a determination can be made on whether any of the findings should be sent to the police.

Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General: “We plan to submit the first report by at least the end of September. And so the others will come in one month after the other. And I must say, Renee, that the conflict of interest identified by the media is not the only conflict of interest we have found. There are more. Not with ministers, let me not put you there, not with ministers, but with other people within the service. So it’s big. It’s really big. And so we must do a fair job to the public. We must do a proper audit trails and follow up the records that exist so that we do not provide it with a wrong conclusion.”

Reporter: Let me push the envelope. So if it’s not what ministers it would be with who? 

Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General: “Public officers.”

Reporter: Within that ministry ?

Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General: “Within that ministry, yes. Unfortunately, I cannot share findings at this time, but I can say that we have some strong recommendations and one of them and if the government is serious about accountability is to begin a process for disclosing conflict of interest even at the level of ministers at the cabinet level.”

The audit began after it was revealed that relatives of former Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence Oscar Mira had received significant contracts from the ministry.  The questions go beyond who received the contracts. Auditors are examining how the contracts were awarded, who approved the work and how the invoices and payments were processed. Some of those transactions were reportedly handled outside the established government system and contrary to procurement and accounting procedures.  Auditors are also checking whether the goods and services listed on the invoices were actually delivered.  We asked Defence Ministry Chief Executive Officer Francis Usher whether he has been briefed on the preliminary findings and what information has been shared with the ministry.

Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of National Defence: “I haven’t been privy to any findings but in the entry interview they did highlight what their lines of inquiry will be. I do know that they have collected all of the necessary files from 2020 to 2026, and then the prime minister did ask them to go as far back as 2015. So they are in the process of getting those files now. And I believe that the entire audit will not finish within the initial timeframe but that the initial line of inquiry, which is the perceived conflict of interest, that report would be submitted within the timeframe. And then they would proceed with the other lines of inquiry.”

If the final report uncovers evidence of fraud or misuse of public funds, the matter could be referred to the Belize Police Department and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.