Flax-Charles gets some praises in COVID Grants report
Although the House of Assembly COVID-19 Assistance Grants Audit Report revealed several instances of mismanagement of funds, it did applaud former Territorial-At-Large Representative Shereen Flax-Charles for her handling of some funds.
The audit report said one of the guidelines for the stimulus programme dictated that funds were to be paid directly to the third party on behalf of the applicant where it was practicable to do so.
This meant that loans, rent and utilities could be paid directly to vendors instead of being given to applicants. This was to ensure the grant funds were used for the intended purposes.
But the report pointed out that overall, “direct payment to vendors was not strictly enforced”, even in areas where it could have been done.
The audit singled out Flax-Charles as the leader who made the greatest attempt to issue payments to third parties where it was possible.
Flax-Charles consistently issued third party payments in her grant awards, according to the report. It said her compliance rate in this area was four times that of former Premier Andrew Fahie who was one of the worst offenders in this area.
The report showed that Flax-Charles awarded a combined total of $83,052 — the largest sum for rent and utilities. Of this amount, she paid 87.5 per cent directly to the vendors.
“The effect of this was greater accountability and a larger pool of individuals served from the funds,” the report stated.
Flax-Charles also made 27 grant payments for applicants’ loan delinquency relief, 26 of which were paid directly to the financial institutions.
“Overall, Honourable Flax-Charles was able to issue from her allotment the greatest number of assistance grants, and did so with the added assurance that these funds were applied for the purpose that they were issued,” the report added.
Flax-Charles lost some points
Although she was praised for her handling of the personal grants, Flax-Charles was called out in the report for her handling of grants given for district projects.
The report said the former legislator undertook multiple community projects totalling $54,370.60. However, she retained one contractor to undertake five projects but no contracts or other binding agreements were signed to ensure that these were completed and done to an acceptable standard.
The report said there was also no evidence of comparative quotes to ensure that the government was receiving the best possible price for the proposed works Flax-Charles commissioned.
The audit report also claims that the files did not show any approval from the Financial Secretary or the Minister of Finance for these projects. And it is unclear whether the contractor was paid upfront or after the works were completed.
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Wha bout the other 12.5%?
Let her explain the money for the contracts given to her brother in law. What was the basis for using him? Was it tendered? It’s all there in the report
At least she does 87% the correct way unlike some politicians want all and leave poor people out here to rot. Next time do 100% good flax-Charles. Integrity is everything. Them theifing scoundrels time soon come.
Read page 14 of the audit report BVI News – paragraph 55 and 56. Do you know who that contractor is?
Find out who the one contractor is and you will see who this woman really is. They are all the same. Doing things to help out their family members.
So happy she got voted out she is a mad woman
I just waiting to see if Justice is being applied evenly in the BVI. I would lose all faith in the governor, the police and the DPP if no arrest are made from this audit report. They charged Hon. Walwyn with breach of trust saying that he breached the Public finance management regulations with giving out contracts to people without going through the right process. This report show that the very Premier did this and Shereen did it also. We will see what is done with the members of the House who also did not go through the correct process.
YEP ALL AH WE WATCHING AND WAITING FOR JUSTICE TO BE SERVED ACCORDING TO THE LAW /
SO WE CAN SEE WHO’S HANDS ARE CLEAN AND SHOULD BE SHOWN RESPECT FOR BEING * HONEST *
YEAH WE WATCHING AND WAITING TO SEE WHO THE HOLY ONES ARE , SO THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE / AND THE OTHERS ~ WE CAN LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THEIR EYES AND LET THEIR MINDS DO THE REST •¿▪︎