Auditor General recommends police investigation into Sussex Street drug bond
Sussex Street Bond
Kaieteur News – Auditor General Deodat Sharma has recommended that Guyana Police (GPF) launch a “detailed” investigation into the controversial Sussex Street bond, which was rented for $ 12.5M monthly by the Ministry of Health (MoH ), under the previous regime of APNU + AFC.
The AG’s special audit report on the Albouystown bond highlighted that proper procedures had not been followed in relation to the award of the contract to Linden Holding Incorporated (the landlord) for the lease of a warehouse facility at Lot 29 Sussex Street, Albouystown, to serve as a medical storage facility off-site for the MoPH and Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The principal for Linden Holding is the businessman, Larry Singh.
He is also facing a lawsuit by the government for supplying unarmed weapons and ammunition to the army, according to a signed contract.
“Notably, tendering board procedures were not followed,” the RE report released highlights in particular. It was released by the Attorney General’s Chambers yesterday.
As part of its recommendations, the Audit Office recommends that the MoPH ensure that it fully complies with the Procurement Act 2003 in relation to the award of contracts. It was also recommended that the Ministry of Legal Affairs, with a view to bringing this matter to a close, should, if necessary, take appropriate disciplinary action against any culpable officers.
In 2018, Kaieteur News had reported that the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU + AFC) government had abandoned the drug bond in Sussex Street, Albouystown, but not before racking up a $ 314.6M bill. The controversy intensified when it was discovered in late 2016 that the facility was only storing items such as lubricants and condoms.
However, in the AG’s report, it was highlighted that while the government was slated to pay $ 475M in rent, it only managed to pay $ 338M. Notably, no letter of the payment due for $ 137 was sent to the MoPH.