HOA member pays district office rent with COVID assistance grant $$
A member of the House of Assembly (HOA) reportedly paid their district office rent with monies intended for a COVID-19 assistance grant programme implemented by the government last year.
The government’s Internal Auditor, Dorea Corea shared that finding when she appeared before the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Wednesday.
The name of the member was not disclosed but Corea told the COI that there was only a single instance of a member paying rent with funds from the COVID grant.
Highlighting other issues arising from the initiative, the Internal Auditor said the criteria for the grants issued under the programme was often seen as vague and was subject to abuse in several instances.
Applicants used grants for old debts
The BVI government had initiated the programme as a form of social intervention to assist residents experiencing financial hardship because of COVID-19, or for those requiring assistance for hurricane recovery and preparation.
However, when applications were reviewed, there were multiple instances where applicants used the programme to settle obligations that predated the pandemic.
The report noted that applicants requested assistance to make payments on loans that were severely delinquent prior to the pandemic; to make payments for credit cards that were delinquent prior to the pandemic; and to reimburse bills that had already been paid. It was also found that grant monies were used on expenditure that was not related to COVID-19 such as education-related payments, long overdue income taxes, outstanding daycare fees, and school fees for persons who were unemployed before COVID.
Those applications, Corea agreed, should have been under other programmes that exist.
Approval process opaque, arbitrary
The internal audit department found that the grant awards appear to have been arbitrarily determined, even when sufficient documentation was submitted to justify the amounts requested by an applicant.
In some instances, award amounts were significantly lowered, even though there was sufficient documentation to justify the need to get a full grant; while in other instances, full amounts were awarded to some applicants without any documentation to justify it.
As a result, the audit found that there were no controls implemented to ensure equitable disbursement of funds.
Grants received from multiple House Members
There were also instances where applicants received grants from multiple members and from other assistance programmes, which the audit found to be abusive.
“I don’t think there was any measure in place to actually do the checks and balances against the members in terms of their recommendations,” Corea said. “[This] maybe in some instances, but not in all, because we realised that multiple payments were made from different members at the same time.”
She continued: “The programmes are not connected, so they didn’t share a common evaluation process or a database where they can be checked and verified. So, a person could have received benefits from say, [the] small business [assistant grant] and still get money from House of Assembly [assistant grant].”
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It’s all coming to light now !
And still people don’t want to open their eyes and see the corruption. Then again, it’s mostly the croonies who don’t like the COI
And when poor me ask they tell me the money done .dey give them friend all two and 3 people in one house hold get even who not in their districts.
That’s to show you how selfish they are….GREED has take over and the poor man have to suffer while the wicked getting richer and fatter….you ain’t see how stuffed chicken does look in h¡s suit
Make an Example of them, prosecute them, they wicked…This nonsense been going on for too long…
This Government more corrupt than the other one. Damn
Freaking WOWWW….. see one term gov.
My daughter applied for assistance. Social Security turned her down. Sought assistance from at large member. One excuse after another but book your best bet, that At large Rep made sure all her close friends and family received. Prayers are not in vain. Do good and it will attend you. Set a wicked people. Never me again vote for these clowns.
People like you are dangerous. If your daughter had received a large cheque, you would have kept quiet. Selfishness is what caused all of this.
Hoisted by there own petard
All through the lockdown, I have been calling their hotline requesting some groceries for my household of 7, 3 teenagers and a toddler, pamper, wipes etc, Not a soul to assist us. I never ever get nothing, grant nothing, but God not sleeping, My kids are growing, God is good.I leave it all to God. This country is who you know and what favor can return, But God.
Here we go again. Its all about self. You and your kids survived, so you should be proud that you did it on your own. Stop complaining.
where is/was the daddy?
Unbelievable. I’m speechless. The audacity.
Yes, I have a friend who said she received money from her district rep to pay off her credit card bill.
these people need to go balo
Here we go again. Its all about self. You and your kids survived, so you should be proud that you did it on your own. Stop complaining.
During the locked down I requested care package up to now nothing. I requested help with my insurance I was told money finish and must apply for the stimulus. After trade department ask to summit All my paperwork which I did, they then told me that I was approved. After months not hearing anything I texted my rep he responded asking me to check with primer office, each time I called the lady who answered the phone giving attitude. When she finally put me on to the accountant he asked for the name of my business and told me that nothing is there for me and I must get back to trade. After I spoke to trade the lady at trade told me yes the primer office have a grant for me and I must give them two weeks and check with them again, I gave them one month and called primer office again the young man told me that he gave the paper work to his PS it’s now six weeks each time I called the office the lady at the office telling me the guy not in office.i get fed up and forget about it. I would love the COI to investigate them. Because one sets of people received so much and some nothing.
Bvi is the worst place I’ve ever been theirs just no law here if you from here… One high school they all went to n if you did not attend that school deh they don’t know you…n yes that’s a felony names need to drop n b put to jail….
This member isn’t on no gov. go check the opposition….
For the record, it says “HOA Member”
Opposition members are House of Assembly members as well
Exactly, the blogger said, ‘this member isn’t on no Gov’.
The article said HOA member. It didn’t mention government side or opposition side.
When the US stimulus dropped everyone went out and a bought a stimulus starter pack but our problem is missing people out not what bills persons paid off.
You think that bad, a government employee from Carrot Bay collected $13,500 for farming . She planted 1 dozen Banana slips in another family garden and have a car to show for the stimulus. Them live wit stimulus in the area. But hem still complaining about the Irma damages….! This is a song that never ends…..!!
If the Headline is correct….It flat out spell corruption, greed and worthlessness.
James 1;4
“but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”
I am always going to wonder if any government would every be able to manage this country with integrity accountability and transparencies.
I cannot believe what I am hearing such nonsense coming out of leaders departments.