Former energy ministry official Leroy Mayers, who will be on a team to probe allegations against the National Gas Company (NGC), says he is yet to receive his letter of appointment and was unaware as yet of the scope of the job. Mayers was asked yesterday when the Hayden Toney team, of which he is a member, would start the scrutiny. The Energy Ministry on Tuesday announced the team after the Energy Minister met with the NGC board that day concerning financial allegations against the NGC.
The ministry had requested from the NGC a report on the issue. The minister received the report and reviewed it with the permanent secretary. As a result, the ministry stated it intended to set up a committee to consider all the circumstances related to the allegations levelled against the NGC. Toney will be chairman, Mayers is a former ministry official. Ministry of Finance representative is Phillip Marshall.
Toney is an attorney and a retired director of the Ministry of Energy. Mayers is a retired permanent secretary who served in both the Energy Ministry and Finance and is currently a consultant with the Ministry of Energy. Marshall is a former Independent Senator, now finance director of Strategic Management Office. Mayers said he expected word on the team’s appointment soon. Toney was unavailable yesterday. NGC chairman Indar Maharaj said he had no comment on the issue. Board member Chan Chadeesingh did not answer calls.
Finance Minister Larry Howai was in a meeting and was unavailable on his role as Corporation Sole. NGC sources said yesterday former auditor Cassandra Patrovanie-Sylvester who allegedly did the report with the allegations had left NGC on her own terms with an agreement on that. The OWTU yesterday issued a statement viewed the investigation as nothing more than a sham.”
“This three-member committee investigation is simply another example of himself investigating himself,” it added. OWTU called for the removal of Ramnarine and the NGC Board, saying it felt Ramnarine was ultimately responsible since Maharaj, “could not have acted without the knowledge, support and authorisation of the minister “who reports directly to the Prime Minister and Cabinet.