The Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Administration of the Guyana Power and Light company Ash Deonarine has been sent on leave after it was discovered that he transferred $27 million to his personal account from the Petro Caribe money that had been transferred to the power company. Police investigators have also been called in.

One of GPL’s Directors, Carville Duncan was also paid $948,000 to his personal account from the same petro caribe money. Both transfers were done without the permission of the GPL management or board.

The announcement was made this morning by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson.  The Minister made the announcement during the post cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency.

He said the discovery was made during the current audit of the Petro Caribe funds. According to the Minister, the Deputy CEO for Admin decided to transfer the money to his account as money owed to him since 2013 when he had lobbied for a raise of pay but that raise was never approved by the board. However, he told the auditors that Duncan who is a signatory to the GPL account, approved the payout.

The money transferred to Duncan’s account represented an increase in the payments to Directors that Duncan wanted but that increase was never approved by the board or the previous government.

The Auditor detailed his questioning of Duncan who he said at first claimed that the payment was approved by the Chairman of the Board. However, when contacted the Chairman of the Board denied. Duncan later reported that it was the CEO of GPL who approved the payout. The CEO also denied. Duncan then claimed that it was the Prime Minister but when contacted the Prime Minister also denied granting any approval.

When that was relayed to Duncan, it was reported that Duncan then claimed that it must have been former President Ramotar who was in office at the time. Both men have been asked to transfer the money back to the GPL accounts.

The Government has handed over its findings to the Police to begin a criminal investigation.  The board of the Guyana Power and Light Company is expected to be replaced by the end of this month when it expires.

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