Audit Report Raises Questions at National Sports Council

In another government department under the responsibility of Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber, questions are being raised in respect of an internal audit conducted at the National Sports Council for the period September to November 2017.  A memo sent to Chief Executive Officer Adele Catzim from Finance Officer Ena Codrington flagged several irregularities under the leadership of Director Ian Jones.  Those concerns include the disbursement of hundred dollar monthly allowances to members of staff using checks.  The audit finds that the issue with such payment is that it may not be recorded as income for each of those individuals, including Sports Director Ian Jones, Kaya Cattouse, Charlie Slusher and several others.  According to Jones, the allowance is an incentive to staff for helping to keep the grounds of the Marion Jones Sporting Complex clean and in order.  The most blatant however, is the payment of salaries to Raymond Menzies as a loan of four thousand, two hundred dollars between November and December 2017.  The audit shows that Menzies is an employee of the Ministry of Education and not the National Sports Council.  The question of measures being taken to recover the loan is also raised.  Jones told News Five today that Menzies was seconded to the Sports Council from the Ministry of Education and that the loan was approved during his sick leave a few days before Christmas.