While rejecting claims by the Opposition of a cover up of an alleged corruption scheme, the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/ Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), has announced that investigations into a number of corruption claims have been done and action taken.

The Opposition has claimed that there is a massive corruption scheme at the Authority involving the misappropriation of millions of dollars and kickbacks being paid to employees by contractors to guarantee government contracts.

The agency did not refute claims that there have been cases of corruption within its operations, but confirmed that such claims have always been investigated.

“The organisation assures its stakeholders and the general public that any situation of misconduct and misappropriation of money were always investigated and the necessary disciplinary actions taken. The records are there to be verified. An incident was recently uncovered and it was dealt with accordingly,” the MMA/ADA said in response.

The agency said it will not condone the reckless dissemination of “baseless” accusations that undermine the hard work and dedication of its staff and stakeholders. The drainage and irrigation body said it will not be distracted by the Opposition and assured that it has properly utilized all budgetary allocations.

“To set the records straight, the authority has been performing excellently, accounting for multiple of successes over the past four years under the stewardship of the PPP/C Administration. These investments that are being made now have been able to cushion the hard effects that affected the lives of over 2000 farmers, during the APNU+AFC reign in office,” the MMA/ADA.

The government agency also took a political position as it fired back at the APNU+AFC claiming that during 2015 to 2020, the Coalition’s only aim was to lease land to its cronies. 

In another statement today, Opposition MP Vinceroy Jordan said now that the entity has confirmed that there was corruption there, the nation must be provided with the details and a proper investigation ought to be carried out.

“The Minister of Agriculture must say whether the Police were called in to spearhead some of these investigations and, if not, why not. Moreover, the Minister of Agriculture must make public the findings of its so-called investigations and what actions were taken against all guilty parties.  It must inform the public, for instance, whether over G$9M of misappropriated funds between staff members and contractors were repaid,” Jordan noted.

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