Former UDP Minister of Works and retired politician, Rene Montero is under investigation after his successor, Minister Julius Espat, through his CEO, wrote to Attorney General Magali Marin Young, the Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, and the chairman of the Integrity Commission. The new Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing is alleging that Montero and his former CEO, Errol Gentle have misused resources belonging to the Ministry of Works for Montero's private gain. Minister Espat is requesting an enquiry into the matter and to ultimately hold Montero and Gentle accountable for any wrong-doing that is discovered. The letters also said that the Ministry has evidence and sworn statements documenting alleged corruption, and that those that gave the statements are willing to testify in court.
This afternoon in a press briefing Espat elaborated on what has been unearthed and what is alleged:
Hon. Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure, Development and Housing
"The Ministry has interviewed and secured sworn statements from multiple workers directly involved confirming that Minister Montero used heavy equipment, personnel, and fuel from the ministry to develop his private farms over some three and a half years at significant expense to the public. The abuse was flagrant and facilitated by public officers of the Ministry Of Works at the highest level as a form of ministerial entitlement. As bad as the conduct of Minister Montero appears, Minister Montero could not have engaged in this prolonged abuse of public resources without the assistance and connivance of his Chief Executive Officer Errol Gentle."
"It is indeed remarkable that not a single public officer came forward to report the wrongdoing over the years it persisted. That failure itself signals the acceptance of the public service of a culture of corruption which has taken root within our system, and which must be uprooted and discarded."
Reporter
"You mentioned the wanton and prolonged abuse of public resources for the private gain of Minister Montero, we've talked about the work done on the farm, we've talked about the road, is there anything that we're missing at this point?"
Hon. Julius Espat
"Well, to give you an example we've just this week alone we have just retrieved two graders, one that was located in the Ladyville area and another one that we found were it was at the Spanish Lookout area and so it is a grave concern for us that we have not gotten to the bottom of everything as yet, and it is scary to be able to not know what government equipment the people own. And, so we're going through that whole analysis and investigation, and as we dig deeper we find more things because people come forward and explain to us. So, it's not over as yet as to what the quantum will be in losses when it pertains to equipment."
"We have gotten eight declarations up until now, but please understand, the Ministry Of Works at the time had over 320 employees, so we only have 8 statements of 320, the further we dig, I can guarantee you we will get more but it is a scary situation. I am disappointed that this is happening or that this has happened in our country and it has to stop. We have to stop it. It's a collaborative effort It is all of us, it is the people's resources that we are speaking of. It is not a dollar, it is not $10, it is not $1000.00. It is not $100,000.00. We are speaking of millions and millions of dollars that are lost."
