PHILIPSBURG–Social Affairs Minister Emil Lee will be requesting Government’s Accountant Bureau SOAB to conduct an audit of the relief goods received and delivered in the country following the passage of Hurricane Irma.
“As a Minister that believes in being accountable to the people and based on recent accusations by the Prime Minister, I am in the process of requesting that SOAB, Government’s Accountant Bureau, perform an audit of the receipt and distribution of relief goods by Government, and in particular the Ministry of VSA [Health, Labour and Social Affairs – Ed.],” Lee said in a press release on Sunday.
“I am truly disheartened. It is so sad that in a time when the people need help and hope, politicians would fabricate stories for political gain. After working so hard after Irma, many of Ministry VSA staff have been hurt by the comments and suggestions that the Ministry would withhold anything from needy people,” Lee said.
“Because the accusation implies that they were somehow complicit or participating in the withholding of relief goods. I welcome a thorough investigation into the entire receipt and delivery of relief goods. In the interest of transparency and accountability, I would recommend that Government request a similar investigation into the clean-up process, including the marine salvage work.”
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/70724-lee-wants-audit-of-relief-goods
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