Red Flags at the ERC?
DEAR EDITOR,
We have to look at Haiti, a country that exists today because the slaves turned for freedom in the 19th Century. To this day, it remains one of the poorest countries in this hemisphere, largely from institutional financial mismanagement. Viewers would rather visit the Dominican Republic, a border country, than Haiti. Unfortunately, it is still a pitiful poor country with many citizens still desperate to leave their homeland for better pastures. Former priest J. Aristide, who was also President at one time, made little difference to the country’s development. It’s hard to say what Haiti, another relatively sparsely populated country, did with the billions received all these years by the US / IMF and other global financial institutions. Not forgetting the millions of US Dollars received after that devastating earthquake in 2010. Still poor, even after 200 years of existence.
I am referring to Haiti in relation to an article in KN-Feb 24th, in which the head of the ERC is competing against recent untold reports in the print media. Missing was a convincing response to funding, as Commissioner pointed out about financial excesses, such as high boots and other goods. A specific sentence: “Audits for 2018, 2019 and 2020 will start soon” is a red flag. So in 2021, the Inflow and Outflow of financial records for the Year 2018 is nowhere available at all? Well-run businesses in Regent Street are able to show year-end financial statements for 2019, even 2018; so too do global corporations.
Assuming that there are no controls on this unit on internal spending, assuming it is an open checkbook, and key individuals may allocate funds at their discretion (eg COVID-19 Grant), assuming no Caps these sums, then the people from this country deserve to see Audits of the years mentioned above when completed and beyond – Item line by Item line.
We should all remember Haiti.
You Kansi