Today a report was leaked to the media pointing to what is called "extravagant spending" on a weekend retreat for the Magistracy.
The confidential report to the AG's ministry was leaked after it was dismissed by the Public Service Commission.
It explores an issue we first reported on in May of 2021 - a planned retreat by the Magistracy to Naia Resort for all 77 of its staff.
Well, the Office of the Auditor General did a probe - and they didn't like what they found one bit. Jules Vasquez scanned the report:
The 17 page memorandum doesn't mince words - right there in the subject line it talks about "misallocation and unapproved expenditure - $40,201 dollars."
And on page 2 - its findings point to quote, "extravagant spending on a staff retreat."
Right off the bat, the report notes at point 7 that funds were approved for a workshop not a retreat. 35 thousand dollars was approved for the workshop but 40 thousand dollars was then budgeted for a retreat.
And then, there was the attendance: plans were made for 77 staff to attend, but only 48 did, working out to an average cost per day per person of 837 dollars. And right there in big bold letters, the report says, quote, "both were considered extravagant spending."
The report also criticizes the quality of the presentations and the person who prepared the report goes from auditor, to editor, and takes a scurrilous twist by pivoting over the the deplorable conditions of the Court's district offices - and, quite, unfairly juxtaposing that against the quote, "extravagant" retreat. While that seems more like what politicians do - rather than auditors, the report is replete with these images. The writer waxes political, saying, quote, "Spending forty thousand two hundred one dollars and thirty-five ($40,201.35) on a staff retreat at a luxurious resort rather than providing much-needed maintenance to the buildings hosting the different District Magistrate Offices.
Putting back on the auditor hat, the report notes that when the bills came - it was for 98 persons to attend and not 78. The auditor says this raises "red flags".
The report concludes, quote, "Funds exceeding forty thousand dollars not approved by the MOF were utilized for a luxurious Staff Retreat."
There are direct allegations of maladministration of the entire trip and today Court Administer Lovette Nunez was taken before the Public Service Commission but it was dismissed. The Commission determined that the case was not properly constituted because due process was not followed.
The Attorney General's ministry may still choose to proceed with the matter by taking a different approach.
