Simpson Miller
MINISTER OF Local Government and Sports Portia Simpson Miller's quest for the presidency of the People's National Party (PNP) could hit a snag if embarrassing revelations continue to unravel about operations at the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), sources say.
According to a number of senior PNP officials, who spoke to The Gleaner on condition of anonymity last night, the problems at the NSWMA were so immense that Mrs. Simpson Miller will have "to do more than just say she has called for an investigation."
"Mrs. Simpson Miller took over the ministry in 2002 and the things that are being alleged here fall under her watch," one party insider noted. "She will have to answer as to why the agency has failed to turn over financial statements to the auditor-general and as to why expensive motor vehicles were bought for employees without ministry approval. She will not be given the opportunity to just sit back and hope these things will simply disappear."
ACCUSED OF FAILING
Auditor-General Adrian Strachan has accused the NSWMA of failing for the second consecutive financial year, to turn over financial statements, saying the agency's actions violated the Public Bodies Accountability Act and "prevented a proper assessment of the authority's financial state of affairs."
His concern comes amid allegations that the state-run agency is embroiled in corruption, forcing Permanent Secretary Lorraine Robinson to solicit the services of the Contractor General and also the Internal Audit Department to look into perceived irregularities. The agency is also said to be $200 million in debt.
EMERGENCY MEETING
Repeated efforts last night to reach Mrs. Simpson Miller were unsuccessful as she was said by aides to be attending a function. She told The Gleaner on Friday that following an emergency meeting with the NSWMA board earlier in the month, she has requested a full review of the operations and funding requirements of the agency.
NSWMA's executive chairman Alston Stewart said on Saturday that he has done nothing wrong in his position as chairman and was not perturbed about any of the investigations taking place.
"My books are in order," he said. "I have done nothing wrong or illegal and I am not the least worried about anything. Our operations here are open to any kind of scrutiny."
In another development, Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, who is off the island, is expected to issue a statement probably as early as today regarding the matter.
Mr. Patterson is said to be "very upset" over the allegations, and has told Mrs. Simpson Miller that "you are the minister ... go and deal with your ministry."
UNDERMINING AUTHORITY
The minister, sources say, had gone to Mr. Patterson on the grounds that persons close to him were undermining her authority as local government minister.
Party sources, however, are convinced that the problems for Mrs. Simpson Miller "are more than what the naked eyes can see." "The buck has to stop with the minister," one insider noted. "What is the system of monitoring at the agency? Why did it became necessary for two prominent board members to have resigned in disgust? Is this an agency that has been allowed to function as a law unto itself? The minister must provide us with these answers."
