<<< Young Bahamians protest outside the ‘Toilet Paper’ on Shirley Street. In below photo (INSET) Hon. Fred Mitchell, Fox Hill MP.
Speaking to the press, Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell responded to reports in the WUTLESS ‘Toilet Paper’ Tribune of comments from the Auditor General regarding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following is the text of Mr. Mitchell’s statement.
STATEMENT BY FRED MITCHELL MP OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS….Responding To Reports of Millions Missing and Visa Scam
House of Assembly- 2nd March 2009 
The headline in this morning’s Tribune 2nd March that a million dollars was missing in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as at 30th June 2007 is inaccurate. The headline does not reflect what the story itself says. Neither does the Auditor General’s report say that a million dollars is missing.
The report points out irregularities in the procedures which meant that on the day or days over which the audit was done, certain documentation as not available. It is possible that the very next day the information was available.
When you say funds are missing, it gives the impression that there was theft or malfeasance when there was none, certainly none that I am aware of. The Auditor General’s report does not suggest that either.
The Chief Accounting Officer of the Ministry is the Permanent Secretary. The Permanent Secretary today is Dr. Patricia Rodgers. The person who set up the embassy in Cuba where the Tribune inaccurately says funds were missing was Carlton Wright, the Under Secretary. Both individuals remain in post today at the Ministry. They would not be there if a million dollars were missing.
Further as regards the question of a visa scam in a related story in the Tribune, there was no visa scam. Not even the Minister Carl Bethel who made the first spurious allegations could continue to support that assertion. The Auditor General’s comments were related to processes and these were communicated to the Ministry while I was there. An independent management audit was conducted at my insistence. Instructions were given to execute the necessary corrective measures. All of us were concerned about abuse of the system. It is well known what my position was on this matter. Following my demitting office, the present Minister was able to complete the work I started on this.
I intend to raise this matter with the Public Accounts Committee.
-END-
den i guess dis post ga get remove hey.
Hey BP, any word on the story on the nurse issues. I heard about it today. Its sound unfair and the statement by the Minister for health does not add up. I dont get it. Who is telling the truth?
Why do people say things on this site without proof??? in Parliament, on this site…I dont get it. are we that scared of people or we just like to talk air. I like how BP is slap ya with the proof. they lay it on the table then the chips fall where they may. Continue to work BP we countin on you!
TO OMAR and everyone else if you cannot debate USING the ENGLISH LANGUAGE, Don’t post at ALL. Bahamas Press is NOT and Will not tolerate ANY FOUL LANGUAGE ON THIS BLOG!
IT IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED! This website is RATED G!
Bahamas press/Editor
I love your idea Thomas Finley. Let’s get the big fish
It does not matter who the players are; there are certain folk who will continue to get all the meat no matter who is in power.Check the record on who is getting the contracts. Oh, I forget, there is no record being kept….
Would that only be the big fish in the PLP or the ones now hogging the gravy train in the FNM? Oh, yeah i just remembered, only PLPs are corrupt. Yeah right. BP, I hope you hot on the trail with this one and when you blow it up, I want to see what the press is going to do. Those lazy reporters are probably glued to this site to find out what to write next.
There is corruption in every ministry of government, so I do not know who Mitchell is kidding, most likely, himself. I have no idea why law enforcement do not get people on the record by promising immunity in order to catch big fish.
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