Financial Abuse at Border Management Agency

The Border Management Agency, which is tasked with overseeing operations at various frontier points, including the western and northern borders, is another hotbed of corruption. A recent investigation conducted by the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, which includes the Border Management Agency, has unearthed a series of improprieties where public finances were abused. According to Minister Anthony Mahler, whose portfolio includes border management, blank cheques were being signed regularly and given to the general manager to cover various expenses. When the accountant flagged the practice, the agency’s board of directors reportedly told him that it was not a matter of great concern.

Anthony Mahler

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“I rise to give a report on some audits done on the Border Management Authority.  Madam Speaker, the Border Management Agency currently manages four facilities: the northern border, the western border, Punta Gorda and one in San Pedro.  I have been advised that there should be one in Jalacte but none was built.  Madam Speaker, I have personally visited three of the four facilities and what I have seen, witnessed and experienced is downright shameful and borders on criminal.  Madam Speaker, like virtually every other government institution in our nation, the Border Management Agency was abused, misused, plundered and left broken and bankrupt, both financially and institutionally by the past administration.  From discussions that I’ve had with my colleagues who are conducting similar exercises in their own ministries and departments.  The destruction and pillaging of our institutions were widespread and became the M.O. of the past U.D.P. administration.  The first problem is that from my investigations, this fellow here, Shrek, some Shrek, maybe the guy is in the west, was the general manager of the Border Management Agency, some U.D.P. crony.  Mr. Shrek operated without any accountability and transparency, in fact, the former accountant would sign blank cheques and Mr. Shrek would go on spending sprees, like the money was his.  In fact, I will ask your permission just to read a letter from the former accountant to Mr. Shrek.  “Through this medium, I would like to inform you that at one of the Border Management meetings, I brought up the scenario where open cheques are issued to the general manager and the board expressed that there is no great concern.  The board is expressing that they have no great concern about blank cheques going to Mr. Shrek.  No great concern on their part, since you are the general manager.  However, as an accountant, I believe that for each month all blank cheques should be well reconciled sometime in the following month.”