Financial regulator spending without mayor’s knowledge

And there is no end to other scandals, this time at City Hall. On Thursday News Five showed a letter and supporting documents which the current City Administrator, Dr. Kiran Vanjani, wrote to CitCo’s Financial Regulator, Patrick Tillett, informing him that he had acted out of the scope when he took certain decisions. These had to do with decisions to purchase a dump truck without the Council’s or the Mayor’s knowledge, to reverse the system of tax collection, and to authorise the installation of three air conditioning units. Today Tillett called a press briefing to explain his actions.

And at the end of the day, Tillett admitted that he did exceed his authority, contrary to Section twenty-three of the City Council Act when he did not consult with the Mayor. On the matter of tax collection, the Ministry of Local Government has instructed Tillett to reverse his decision. But on the issue of the dump truck, Tillett explained why he did it.

Patrick Tillett, Financial Controller, CitCo
“We purchased the dump truck for thirty-four thousand dollars in a hope to alleviate the rentals that the council currently undertake. We rent about four vehicles to cover our operations in the Works Department and the Sanitation Department. Normally when you buy a second hand truck, you have to expect that you will make some investment in it and so we are going through that process where we are making the investments. But all in all, you can’t compare a truck that you pay for thirty-four thousand dollars to rentals that you are paying just to one truck, twenty-five thousand dollars in two months.”

Marion Ali
“That first truck that you brought up has been deemed worthless by some of the councillors.”

Patrick Tillett
“Well, I think that’s more of an emotional outburst.”

Marion Ali
“Is it in use now?”

Patrick Tillett
“Yes, we are buying a part for it and then it should be ready for next week.”

Marion Ali
“Well, the complaint is that your decision to purchase that truck has cost the council more than they bargained to pay or than it could afford for it.”

Patrick Tillett
“That is not true because if you are spending on four trucks, eighty thousand dollars in two months, and if you buy one truck, it can eliminate two trucks, then you are saving considerably.”

Marion Ali
“But it was wrong to have made the decision and that’s the whole bottom line.”

Patrick Tillett
“Yeah but what I’m saying is that we could stay on that issue if we take that in isolation. If you just say oh you did that, but this was done in a strategy; as part of a strategy.”

Zenaida Moya Flowers, Belize City Mayor
“Any decision that is made by any person who is acting in the capacity of City Administrator, the law is very clear that that person works under the supervision of the Mayor. That person has to do so because ultimately these things should go to the council, depending on what can happen. When it comes to revenues, as the person in this case, the councillor responsible for revenues, nothing was brought to myself so neither in the capacity of Mayor, neither in the capacity as the elected official holding the portfolio for revenues; nothing was brought to my attention.”

Tillett later explained that the purchase of the Mayor’s vehicle was done in the same way the dump truck was purchased, but that is not being questioned.