Ethnic Relations Commission – Commissioner needs to be audited
– received over $ 900M in budget allocations in the last 7 years
Commissioner for Ethnic Relations, Hajji Roshan Khan
Kaieteur News – Commission for Ethnic Relations (ERC) Commissioner Haji Roshan Khan has emerged once again to speak out against alleged mismanagement that is taking place with state funds. Khan is of the firm conviction that an audit is needed to uncover key areas where significant value is being dropped.
Khan made this statement yesterday while speaking to Kaieteur News by telephone on several relevant issues, which he had highlighted in a letter published in the February 15, 2021 issue of this publication.
Khan said, “I would like a serious government audit” and if possible a direct audit by the Office of the Auditor General. In his letter, Khan had said, “… In its current state, I believe that, like most Guyanese, the ERC has been a complete disappointment to the Guyanese nation and does not deserve the money they deserve accepts it. In my opinion, they have achieved very little. I think what was done is trivial and very limited to what could have been achieved. “
Speaking to Kaieteur News yesterday, he reiterated that there was unjustified spending within the Commission. Explaining further, Khan pointed out that a Christmas bonus is given out in the ERC. Khan claimed that the Commissioners tried to give themselves $ 200,000 as a Christmas bonus, but settled at $ 150,000, which was still going against the government’s advisory of $ 25,000 per head in statutory bodies. He said, “I refused to accept it because it was illegal and wrong”.
Another Commissioner also told Kaieteur News in confidence that he also opposed the amount.
Chairman of the Commission, Reverend John Smith.
A total of $ 100,000 was also given to all ERC staff as a Christmas bonus and Khan said that while they do their jobs in a commendable way, it is “unreasonable” to get that kind of money as a Christmas bonus given the government’s mandate. .
As it related to allowances, the Commissioner had claimed, “Some also wanted a flight risk allowance. They wanted the risk allowance to go in the jungle. ”He also said that some individuals want high quality shoes to cross the jungle lands. The Commissioner stated that they were provided but were rarely used. According to Khan, ERC Commissioners also received out-of-town allowances and were well paid for “part-time work”.
It must be noted that the ERC has received over $ 900M in budget allocations over the past seven years, with an average of approximately $ 130M allocated each year, leaving questions about how much of that amount was used for the benefit of the Guyanese People. This announcement also asked Khan why ERC spending is not properly scrutinized and why Budget Estimates show little information about what the large annual allocations provide for, and he responded that the Chairman, the Reverend John Smith, needed an answer.
It must also be noted that Kaieteur News reached out to the Chairman for a response on the issues Khan highlighted in his letter of February 15 on Thursday, but Smith could not respond at the time. He noted however that a press release would be issued yesterday addressing Khan’s allegations. Up to press time, Kaieteur News had not seen any statement from the Chairman.
In addition, Khan had tasted the Chairman in his letter, noting that he was a “decorative appointee” serving on the ERC, which is a white elephant.
Khan also blasted the Chairman for giving the general public the perception that the ERC was doing something, referring to the “National Conversation” held last December, which aimed to improve Ethnic Relations in the country.
Kaieteur News understands that the Commission, which was reconstituted on February 22, 2018, is about to expire soon.
Khan has argued that the ERC has had an opportunity to prove its relevance in Guyana for the large sums of money given for goodwill, harmony and peace but it has failed to do so.