NICH President’s Vehicle was Purchased in Chetumal
The purchase of a compact crossover vehicle for use by NICH President Sapna Budhrani, as well as fuel consumption for the 2018 Honda CR-V raised eyebrows in the memo sent by Roberto Matus to Associate Director of Finance Edwin Alvarado on August twelfth. The purchase seemed questionable in the context of other vehicles within the NICH fleet needing urgent repairs. The fact that it was also bought in Chetumal raised concerns since the transaction involved the use of public funds outside of the country. Today, we asked Budhrani about the procurement of the vehicle and how it was entered into the country.
Isani Cayetano
“The president drives a late model Honda CRV valued at sixty-seven thousand dollars. I understand that that purchase may have taken place over in Chetumal, the purchase of the vehicle. Can you explain the procurement, in terms of how you used government funds to purchase a vehicle in Chetumal? Was this done in cash, cheque, how was this vehicle acquired?”
Sapna Budhrani
Sapna Budhrani, President, NICH
“Thank you Mr. Cayetano. First of all, the vehicle was not purchased, just randomly purchasing a vehicle, going on a high maintenance person here spending. It was approved by the board. The board had actually approved a vehicle to be purchased at about seventy thousand. We did our due diligence here, looked around for a vehicle here. Majority of them did not meet that price. The vehicle was purchased at Chetumal, that is true. That is factual and it was purchased under Mr. Vernon’s interim president position. It was the best choice to purchase that vehicle at Chetumal given that time…”
Roosevelt Blades, Member, NICH Board of Directors
“The suburban weh di man di drive right now purchase da Chetumal. So if I dah you, I wouldn’t pursue that.”
Greg Vernon
Isani Cayetano
“I just want to know how you’re able to use public funds to purchase outside of the country, what process, what procurement method is being used for something like that? That’s basically what I want answered.”
Greg Vernon, Director, I.C.A.
“Confirming that we used bank transfer. We used the NICH credit card that we purchased the vehicle.”
