Worrying moves

Financial controller at the Transport Board Felicia Sue has once again pointed to several financial irregularities which occurred at the bus company.

Among them was an invoice for payment from the then chairman, to reimburse over $14 000 of his personal monies used to purchase tools and equipment for the Quality Assurance department.

She made the revelations as she appeared again before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today.

Sue, who has been employed by the Transport Board for the past 15 years, appeared the before PAC back in January, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sue, accompanied by her attorney Chester Sue, said the then general manager sent a memo to her regarding payment to chairman Anthony Wiltshire.

She said the claim was in relation to reimbursement for the purchase of tools by Wiltshire.

She also noted that because she was not in agreement with the procedure she wrote to the general manager at the time outlining her concerns.

The amount was for $14,819.45.

Sue said she did not know why the chairman spent the money or what the money was spent on. She also said she did not ask any questions regarding the money.

When asked by chairman of the PAC Reverend Joseph Atherley if this was usual Sue replied, “No it was not, which is why I wrote.”

She however, admitted that there had been other instances where Wiltshire had used his personal funds to purchase equipment for the Transport Board.

“There were other instances, which is why I wrote that the proper documentation be provided.”

When questioned by Atherley, Sue also said she was unaware of the sale of former Transport Board BM 506.

She said while she was later informed that a “bus body” had been sold for $300, she could not say whether it was indeed that particular vehicle.

She said she could not recall selling any other “bus body” for $300 and that the sale of BM 506 remained a mystery to her.

Sue also reiterated that while she was concerned with some of the Transport Board’s improper procedures she was most concerned with the quality assurance department.

“I thought for good governance processes that the procedures needed to be updated from time to time, so it was primarily the procedures in the quality assurance department,” she pointed out.

Sue also admitted that both the quality assurance and the finance departments were guilty of not following the proper procedures at times.

PAC chairman said he was hoping to conclude the investigation in the next two sessions.

He said once that was done a report would be prepared and sent to Parliament. randybennett@barbadostoday.bb