Rado vs. Marconi Leal Jr. is Not a Matter for Cabinet – P.M. Briceño
Marconi Leal Jr.
Transport Minister Rodwell Ferguson wrote to C.E.O. Marconi Leal Junior recently, informing him that all financial transactions exceeding five thousand dollars require his expressed approval, effective February twenty-third. On Friday, the minister rationalized his decision by telling the media that he received information which ultimately prompted the letter. He also alluded to the likelihood that suspicious financial activity may have been taking place within his ministry, by stating, “I will not tolerate it. I just came back yesterday. When I go back, I will call my technical people together and I will do my investigation for myself”. Earlier today, we caught up with Prime Minister John Briceño and asked for his angle on the situation which is in the vein of action that had been taken to tie the hands of the former C.E.O. in the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well that’s not a matter for the cabinet, but that’s a matter for myself. We are finding ways on how both of them can continue to work together. I think, so far, they work well together so it is just a matter of sitting down and talking to them.”
Henry Charles Usher
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
“I think that that’s a question that you would have to ask the C.E.O. in that particular ministry. You are right, the C.E.O.s are the accounting officers for the ministries. They are responsible to make sure that the budgeted monies are used properly, are spent properly and I think it is important that everybody works together, including the ministers, to make sure that the monies that are budgeted for that particular ministry or department are spent in accordance with the plans set forth during the budget cycle.”
Reporter
“But is that micromanaging though? If they are the accounting officers, why does the minister have to be checking above every five thousand?”
Henry Charles Usher
“Well I think you can define it how you want, but I think what is important is that we work together in the ministry to make sure that the budgeted funds are used properly and I think that’s all the minister wants to make sure.”
