A T&T Electricity Commission (T&TEC) audit team has recommended that the controversial vibrating $26,558 boardroom chair be sold at a reasonable sum to recover the monies spent for it.
In an advertisement yesterday, following reports about the Pulsor chair, TTEC stated its audit department was mandated to conduct a thorough probe of the matter and had reviewed all the documents and interviewed personnel.
T&TEC said investigations have revealed that the procedure used to procure the chair was not in accordance with established policies.
According to a summary of the report, the allegation that T&TEC’s chairman authorised the purchase of the chair was unsubstantiated.
The report said in October 2013 there was a need to replace the boardroom chair and in late October two chairs were taken to the commission on demonstration from Bewil.
“The commission’s chairman sampled one of the chairs but indicated that the chair was not suitable because of the gadgetry associated with it. At that time no quote was available on the chairs sampled.”
The audit revealed that it “is highly probable that the confirmation to the acting communications manager to go ahead and purchase the chair came from the assistant general manager (engineering) Courtenay Mark.”
It also stated that the commission’s procedures “were not followed by the communication department head prior to signing the purchase order, in that a minimum of three quotes were not obtained for this transaction.” Nor was TTEC’s chair policy adhered to, it was noted.
This policy existed since 2010 and stipulated a minimum of five years’ warranty and identified clear specifications for chair acquisitions.
T&TEC stated there was no warranty and no return policy for that purchase and the chair was delivered on January 22, 2014.
However, upon being informed of the cost, the chair was immediately rejected by T&TEC’s chairman and general manager but the commission said “no firm action was taken to return the chair and by April Bewil threatened to sue for payment. T&TEC paid for the chair to avoid undue legal wrangling with Bewil.”
The ad stated: “The audit findings revealed that a more prompt and persistent response by T&TEC in an attempt to negotiate the return of the chair, particularly at the higher levels, may have led to an earlier settlement of the matter and possibly could have avoided the pre-action letter.”
An audit done by T&TEC in 2013-2014 into the communications department, which purchased the chair, revealed 18 violations where past purchases were made by the department (a minimum of three quotes were not obtained for any purchases).
The audit report stated that when the general manager was contacted by the media on the chair, “while at first the exact location of the chair couldn’t be specified, investigations concluded the chair was never placed in the boardroom.
“It was found in a storeroom by the acting internal audit manager covered with two blue garbage bags. It’s now recommended that it be sold to recover monies paid for it,” it added.