New audit exposes unreported grant payments
A recent audit found that $214,500 in 13 extra grants were distributed between May and December 2021 as part of the Farmers and Fisherfolk COVID-19 Stimulus Programme.
These previously undisclosed payments bring up new concerns about the transparency of how grants are distributed. The controversial Farmers and Fisherfolk Stimulus Programme was designed to support local agriculture and fisheries as part of the government’s efforts to boost food production during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the recent audit, completed as part of the Commission of Inquiry’s (COI) recommendations, shed light on unreported payments and inconsistencies in the programme’s administration. The audit findings showed that undisclosed funds were provided to people not included in the 2021 audit, which only included payments amounting to $5.14 million. The programme has distributed some $5.39 million based on the latest audit numbers.
The audit not only pointed out undisclosed grants but also brought attention to the problems with the differing application procedures utilised by the Premier’s Office and the Ministry of Agriculture. Both departments conducted individual procedures, causing confusion and potentially excluding valid farmers and fishermen from getting assistance.
“More than two-thirds (68%) of the initial respondents did not submit the second application required to qualify for the grant,” the audit revealed. It also highlighted how certain people might have been excluded because of poor coordination between the two departments.
Excessive grant payouts
Adding to the complexity, the audit found cases where recipients were given excessive grant payouts. As per the report, a few farmers and fishermen received significantly more money than they initially requested. An illustration given was of a farmer who asked for about $371.97 but received $13,500 instead, a discrepancy exceeding $13,000.
The lack of supervision has raised concerns about handling the funds and whether they were used effectively. Governor Daniel Pruce released a statement in reaction to the audit’s findings on COVID-19 assistance grants.
Pruce mentioned that although some programmes functioned as planned and helped reduce certain COVID-19-related expenses, audits uncovered several issues such as transparency, eligibility, and exceeding budgets.
Actions already taken
The Governor highlighted that actions have already been taken to tackle some of the concerns identified in the audits. The Social Development Department now oversees the administration of assistance grants, intending to implement a more efficient and up-to-date system for allocating public funds through the Public Assistance (Amendment) Act 2024.
Pruce emphasised the importance of audits in ensuring that public funds are appropriately used, adding that they “play a vital role in ensuring value for money and accountability.” He also stressed that the findings should be used to improve public systems and strengthen institutions.
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I cant understand how farmers and fisher folks got so much money and not even a peas tree to show for it?
Because 99.5% of them aren’t farmers or fisherfolk.
There will be no justice till all those who got or gave out illegal monies are made to pay back that money into the public purse.
that British are CUNNING AND THEY are on to YA’LL who think that you got more BRAINS THAN anybody else , well YA’LL will be trembling in YA’LL shoes , LETS SEE HOW ALL OF YA’LL WHO WAS FLEXING OFF ON POOR PEOPLE , FLEX NOW
Foy and the Slow Man
This is honestly true. People who never farmed a day in their lives benefitted and those who has been doing it for years did not get a dime.
That’s the VIP way
Boi, Andrew Fahie must be glad that he is in jail already.
Inquiring minds want to know. Who the 200k undisclosed was paid to?
Name and shame.
The report is making its rounds on WhatsApp. The names and amounts are definitely jaw-droppers! Make sure that you’re seated when reading it…. #ridiculous #weliveamongstdishonestpeople
We bash the politicians daily but nobody says one word about the hundreds of BVI people that took this money, OUR MONEY even though they were gainfully employed and didn’t need the money. The people are far worst than the politicians. For starters, what the f**k did COVID have to do with fishermen and farmers, when they were the ones allowed to be out plying their trades during lockdown? Irma destroyed the entire BVI and nobody got a grant, but a flu passed by and people collected millions and we will pretend as if it’s only the politicians’ fault?
@Wow you sound so ignorant! Could those fishers and farmers take those funds from the Treasury themselves? No! It’s them so-called politicians who gave them the big checks! They are the ones who should be held accountable! Well, Fahie, he already got his punishment! When a list was circulated in 2021 a relative of mine name was on that list when my relative did not even request one dime and got one dime!!
Without a shadow of a doubt the UK will take over this lawless country! After all of that mess that took place in 2021 Natalio Wheatley still gone and had a party. A party for which the people of this Territory can’t get a report of how their money was spent, and yet he gone again, without his government knowing, take up $220k out of our treasury and give Steve Parillon to give to Vybz Cartel from Jamaica who is a very sick man. Now Natalio believes that getting rid of Lorna will help him to keep his government. Natalio you are a big disappointment. Your government will fail and it will be because of your stupidity!
I believe what “Wow” is saying is that there are people who dishonestly applied for the grants even though they were gainfully employed at the time (some even receiving MULTIPLE grants/payments). If you ever get a chance to read the report (which is currently in circulation), you would understand why the person made the comment.
@Anon, are you f**king serious? So politicians went to the Treasury, paid the monies and the people were forced to accept the payments? I’m saying the same people complaining about roads, schools, water etc. accepted thousands of dollars they didn’t qualify for and said nothing. They are far more corrupt than the politicians. I guess I mashed a corn because maybe you are vex you didn’t get some of that money?
Truly sad. I went and apply but never got thru. Only to be told no more monies. But here you got people double eating.
is a blessing that look like a rejection. Not all cash is good money. you made it through life without it so give thanks
and imagine me and husband had to fend for 2 kids never even get a dollar from the stimulus package.
It got some things you gots to thank God for. At least your name isn’t caught up in the muck. You and your kinds survived without it
well yes yes we all have to put God first, Irma didn’t take us down neither covid. God is good. We survived. Thanks secondly to residents in the area and friends the kids were well taken care of during the lockdown.
So you mean to tell me with all thats’ uncovered, the offenders get a pat on the back, a warning not to let this happen again, move on afresh and that is it? Wow, see what justice has come to, reason why all the corrupters remain so comfortable. There are no ramifications and thus the reason why the BVI will remain the way it is.
Please explain it to me like i am a 5 year old kid, how can the bvi electorate still vote inn a party after those blatant corruption.
Not all but some have motives for voting them back in. Let’s just say “kick backs”.
We are in a bad state but fighting to be independent!
Whether they farmed 1 day or 20 years, they should not have gotten ONE F**KING DIME of taxpayer money! How many commercial farmers or fishermen do we have in the BVI that would have suffered losses due to lockdown? They were one of the only groups allowed to move around during the lockdown so how were they impacted? You have 3 different guys being paid $20K each for a 24ft old boat. I am convinced we are shameless in the BVI. The names are there for all to see but nobody will say anything. Same with the Premier Grants that saw well to do people getting over $100K under the guise of helping their kids with education. Shameless!
Lord help us al. This is crazy
Some ,
Pastors,
Leaders
Senior Civil servants saying the BVi is not a corrupt country
Well then tell me the definition of a corrupt government…..
someone needs to go to prison for this, besides andrew fahie
” As per the report, a few farmers and fishermen received significantly more money than they initially requested. ”
I honestly can not blame them, dont look a gift horse in the mouth. They thought this was how it was supposed to go.
Gov pretty much set up the people and their names got plastered all over way before a audit. Andrew Fahie robin hood.
People talking bullcrap are the same ones running for a vaccine, and praying for a second dose.
When COVID came out people did not know how long it would last so to give money to farmers and fishers was understandable!
Even if they didnt fish or farm before maybe that money was to get them into action. What good is the money if the world was ending?
realize the other businesses & churches got stimulus & no one crying about them.
We have issues applying the scale of balance. Its all wrong. Them fishing men were never broke. They sold fish faster and more expensive. If there was to be a true srimulus there were businesses that were on a stand still and employees were heavily impacted. No cruise ships, hotels closed, no tourists for a while, restaurants locked down and the like. A well thought plan should have been on the table. Yes we many thought that the world was going to end so lets not go out broke. Its all about greed from all who had a hand in the pot.
They should all be held accountable
Do not try to justify wrong
That is why we will never go anywhere.
Perhaps it is thinking people like you have the country in this mess
imagine asking for $371.97 to get 20 lbs of kelp fertilizer, but getting $13,500. what a blessing!
Absolute proof we can not trust the government in the BVI.
They have always kept the auditor out of the loop and in the dark so she can not do her job.
I am so upset for my family and the future generations for how we have been used and abused. I may have to turn to a life of crime to support my family unless someone steps in…
America is locking up people who took advantage of the Covid time PPP Grants and loans now 4 years later! Do we have that kind of will power? To hold those who benefitted, just as responsible as those who disbursed the funds?
that fake PASTOR one of the FAMOUS 3 FROM CANE GARDEN BAY was so boldfaced to go on a show and PROUDLY HOLLERED OUT ” THERE IS NO CORRUPTION HERE ” IF THAT DIDN’T DMSEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO US THE PEOPLE OF THE BVI , THAT WE HAVE A SET OF HOME GROWN HUSTLERS ON THE LOOSE HERE / EVEN USING THE CHURCH AS A FRONT / THEN AS ANOTHER ONE ONE OF THOSE 3 HOLY BOYZ *(CSC)* SAID ” WE FRIGGED . AND THEN THERE IS THE THIRD ONE , WHO CALLS HIMSELF ” THE BISHOP ” , ALL THREE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED . STILL WE ARE WAITING ON ALL THOSE ACTORS ( POLITICIANS ) WHOSE HANDS ARE CLEAN , TO CALL OUT THOSE WITH DIRTY HANDS , (IF) THEY GOT ANY INTEGRITY WITHIN / AND AS FOR THE WIGGED ONE WHO IS SPEWING OUT
PURE HATRED AND RACISM ON A DAILY BASIS , LETS SEE HOW HE IS GOING TO TWIST & TURN THIS REVELATION OF WHAT WAS DISCOVERED INTO ” ITS THE WHITE SLAVE MASTERS , DID IT TO OUR PEOPLE ” OR AS THE ALOOF ONE SAID THE ( COI ) IS CAUSING RETARDATION , WHAT YOU GOT TO SAY THAT THIS FORM OF CORRUPTION IS CAUSING , WE CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR YOUR RESPONCE ” HOLLER , SO WE CAN HEAR YOU / OH THIS SHOULD BE FUNNY OUR NEW DEPUTY HOLLERED OUT THAT HE IS CHASING DOWN THE ( WHITE ONE MAN ” COI ” SIR SINCE YOU ARE SO TRANSPARENT WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO ELABORATE ON THESE PUREST FORM OF SOPHISTICATED CORRUPTION BY OUR OWN LEADERS ON THEIR OWN PEOPLE / THAT BLAME GAME SH*T AINT GOING TO WORK , WE DONE KNOW THE FACTS AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE / OR ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY POSSUM ❓️ LIKE THE REST TO YOU ALL WHAT ABOUT THE PHOTO OF OUR MOST FAMOUS HERO IN THE BVI ■ IN THE ( SUPPOSED TO BE HONORABLE HOUSE OF
ASSEMBLY WE ARE SURELY SENDING A LOVELY MESSAGE TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD ( LAVITY STOUTT ) IS LIKE JESUS COMPARE TO YA’LL DEVIL ANGELS •
Some folk that needed that money didn’t get any, well sah, God don’t sleep, just remember that, and karma is the biggest @itch.
The CoI didn’t make any sense..it uncovers so much corruption but yet the same ppl sit in Government today…
The COI made perfect sense. The truth was brought out in an open and fair way. You saw everyone’s responses. If the BVI voters chose to ignore the obvious, that’s on them.
But wait..That message on the Whatsapp got some rich elite types on there.I know some was getting grants an buying their family stuff with it.Some on there rich no rass and getting assistance
Need UK take over. Not one local politician can be trusted! Not one!!