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<span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : SDC says it has pa...ify ( RJR )...</span>
The Social Development Commission (SDC) on Tuesday revealed that it has been paying out money for emergency work which it cannot verify has been carried out in various constituencies. Chairman of the SDC, Dwayne Vernon, told Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the agency has also occasionally been mandated to monitor repair work to infrastructure and drains, for which it has neither the manpower nor the capability to handle.Mr. Vernon said the SDC was given the mandate following Hurricane Gustav in 2008 and project documents were sent to the agency from the Constituency Development Fund Unit along with invoices.However, he said on close inspection the documents indicated that the works had already been completed.Mr. Vernon said the agency was placed in a vulnerable position as it had no way of verifying whether the work done was necessary or whether the invoice request matched the scope of work carried out.Mr. Vernon admitted that the agency paid contractors without proper verification.He however said the agency also depended on inspection officers who could sometimes personally verify work done in a particular area.Mr. Vernon suggested that something needs to be done urgently to correct the existing situation."I think as an agency and as Members of Parliament we have to try and correct certain things that are happening because we are exposed many times and it is unfair to the agency. It is not as frequent, we are trying to correct it but it is something that together, we all need to fix," Mr. Vernon said.In the meantime, PAC member, Andrew Gallimore suggested that photographs be taken of works to be done."I find the comments strange as someone who sits on the CDF Committee and knows the rigorous process that is adhered to in the preparation of the projects that always involves the implementing agencies at the genesis of the project. Separate and apart from that, in dealing with the National Works Agency in most instances when there is blockages or so there are digital photographs that are taken prior," Mr. Gallimore said.Meanwhile, PAC member and chairman of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Everald Warmington, challenged the claim by the Social Development Commission that no invoices were sent to the agency by the CDF Unit, for emergency works done.Mr. Warmington said he was not aware of such occurrences under his watch."You said invoices, we don't send invoices," Mr. Warmington said."CDF Unit does not send invoices for payment, they send project documents and they will transfer the funds per constituency. What I am saying is that many a times, as soon as we get the project document and sometimes even before we get the project document, we get invoices from the constituencies, not from the CDF Unit," Mr. Vernon said.
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : SDC says it has pa...ify ( RJR )...</span>
The Social Development Commission (SDC) on Tuesday revealed that it has been paying out money for emergency work which it cannot verify has been carried out in various constituencies. Chairman of the SDC, Dwayne Vernon, told Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the agency has also occasionally been mandated to monitor repair work to infrastructure and drains, for which it has neither the manpower nor the capability to handle.Mr. Vernon said the SDC was given the mandate following Hurricane Gustav in 2008 and project documents were sent to the agency from the Constituency Development Fund Unit along with invoices.However, he said on close inspection the documents indicated that the works had already been completed.Mr. Vernon said the agency was placed in a vulnerable position as it had no way of verifying whether the work done was necessary or whether the invoice request matched the scope of work carried out.Mr. Vernon admitted that the agency paid contractors without proper verification.He however said the agency also depended on inspection officers who could sometimes personally verify work done in a particular area.Mr. Vernon suggested that something needs to be done urgently to correct the existing situation."I think as an agency and as Members of Parliament we have to try and correct certain things that are happening because we are exposed many times and it is unfair to the agency. It is not as frequent, we are trying to correct it but it is something that together, we all need to fix," Mr. Vernon said.In the meantime, PAC member, Andrew Gallimore suggested that photographs be taken of works to be done."I find the comments strange as someone who sits on the CDF Committee and knows the rigorous process that is adhered to in the preparation of the projects that always involves the implementing agencies at the genesis of the project. Separate and apart from that, in dealing with the National Works Agency in most instances when there is blockages or so there are digital photographs that are taken prior," Mr. Gallimore said.Meanwhile, PAC member and chairman of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Everald Warmington, challenged the claim by the Social Development Commission that no invoices were sent to the agency by the CDF Unit, for emergency works done.Mr. Warmington said he was not aware of such occurrences under his watch."You said invoices, we don't send invoices," Mr. Warmington said."CDF Unit does not send invoices for payment, they send project documents and they will transfer the funds per constituency. What I am saying is that many a times, as soon as we get the project document and sometimes even before we get the project document, we get invoices from the constituencies, not from the CDF Unit," Mr. Vernon said.