The Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Natural Resources are the government ministries that are under the radar of the new government and are currently under investigation as the probe into the fuel scam and abuse of the government credit system at the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) widens.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon said the APNU+AFC government was looking to recover in excess of $1million which was given out in fuel by the state owned GuyOil to former government officials, their families and friends over the last month.
Harmon explained that the three Ministries were selected based on information the government received from GuyOil. He said a series of “conflict of interest” matters were identified a part from the former government personnel drawing state fuel without paying.
Harmon disclosed that the government has confirmed, with the help of GuyOil that several non- government vehicles received free fuel from GuyOil under the previous administration and in the first weeks of the new government.
He said Guyoil has been submitting invoices for payments and the various Ministries have already been informed of what they should be looking for.
Almost a week after Harmon revealed the abuse of the Guyoil government credit system, the General Secretary of the PPP challenged him to “be a man” and release the names of the persons.
The General Secretary said his party will not allow Harmon or anyone else from the new APNU+AFC government to make statements against the PPP and its members which cannot be substantiated.
Rohee said if Harmon does not provides the list, then the PPP will seek other avenues to obtain the list if it exists.
Mr. Rohee headed the Home Affairs Ministry which is currently under investigation while another senior Member of the PPP, Irfaan Ali headed the Tourism Ministry while Robert Persaud was the Minister of Natural Resources.
Government Ministries have a credit system with Guyoil for the supply of fuel for government vehicles. The vehicles would be filled up and at the end of the month the various Ministries would receive invoices for purchase and those invoices would also carry the registration number for the vehicles that would have accessed the service.
According to Minister of State, Joe Harmon, the facility was being abused by the former government during its time in office and some former officials and their relatives were still abusing it and as such a decision was made to ensure they are no longer able to access the facility.
He said the government will ensure that those from the former administration who accessed the facility along with the family members and friends will pay for the fuel they would have collected.
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