that was a big lie

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There’s a deafening silence surrounding the fiasco of the unaccounted for $90M that was supposed to goAssistant Commissioner David Ramnarinetowards the provision of food for the police during last year’s General Elections.Since this newspaper published the revealing article, there has been no response from the Force’s hierarchy or the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is seeking Parliamentary approval for the money.The money was listed as part of the advances made from the Contingencies Fund for the period 25th October to December 31st 2011.This newspaper had reported that a probe is underway to determine how the money was used and several Divisional Commanders have given statements to the investigators, indicating that they were not in receipt of any cash to purchase ration for their ranks who were inlying for a one week period during the elections.While many Commanders have refused to comment on the matter, the usually outspoken Assistant Commissioner David Ramnarine, who was in charge of the Interior Division during the elections, was not restrained.In an invited comment he said that for him, it does not matter who is investigating, who is benefiting and what comes out of the investigation because he believes that it will all end up to be a “big joke, which is nothing strange in this country.”“What I will say is this, as I have said before and which I had already communicated to the ranks under my command, David Ramnarine did not receive a single cent. Much less, I was asked to seek the support of the miners and businessmen, particularly from the Bartica district, to fund feeding and other issues during the elections,” Ramnarine said.His statements echoed another senior officer, who asked not to be named and who had received similar instructions.This newspaper had enquired from senior police officials about the investigations into the matter and was told that no such probe was being undertaken.However, Ramnarine, who is now the Commander of the Police East Coast division, said that he was asked to submit a statement on the matter to the police Office of Professional Responsibility, who is carrying out the investigation.He said that in his statement, he chronicled the financial challenges he faced in the sprawling division he once commanded.The interior division was the first to start the movement of ballot boxes several days before the November 28 polls.“I am fully aware that the statements I made on television in January would have irked certain officials. And what I said then, I will repeat now, that God and businessmen and miners carried me through,” Ramnarine declared.A few weeks ago on a television programme, at least two other commanders had expressed their gratitude to members of the business community.During last November’s General and Regional Elections, police ranks had complained bitterly about the quality, and in some cases, lack of food while they were inlying in the various barracks throughout the country.They were told that the government had not provided money to the Force for their upkeep.But as it turned out, that was a big lie; the government had budgeted a whopping $90M for such a purpose.This according to a source was revealed by a senior government official who had expressed dismay at the fact that the ranks were shabbily treated.According to the Schedule of Supplementary Provision on the Current and Capital Estimates for the period 2011-10-05 to 2011-12-31, the government has made advances from the Contingencies Fund to the tune of $90,649, 200 for the Guyana Police Force through the Ministry of Home Affairs.This amount was to “meet additional expenditure for the General and Regional Election 2011; for feeding rural constables working on elections day; for feeding of police ranks inlyned and to meet expenditure associated with intensification of patrols in and around the city.”Kaieteur News understands that it is customary for Divisional Commanders to prepare a budget of expenditure for the provision of meals for the ranks under their command on every occasion that an election is held.This was done by a few Commanders but was reportedly rejected by the Commissioner of Police in the run up to last November’s elections.Kaieteur News understands that the Commissioner informed his Commanders that no money was provided for the inlying of ranks and advised them to solicit the assistance of members of the public, which they eventually did.“I wish to state in no uncertain terms that during the build up to the elections, as I recall, only Assistant Commissioner Steve Merai and myself had challenged the (Force) administration in any serious way as to how we would have been able to finance the policing of the elections in our respective divisions,” Ramnarine stated.The Opposition in the National Assembly has already voted down several provisions in the Supplementary Appropriation sought.