A social media activist has requested the disclosure of information related to the recent hiring practices at the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.
Vishal Persad, the administrator of the blog “Millennials for Change”, made the request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in a letter sent by his attorney, Keron Ramkhalwhan, to the corporation’s chairman, Kenwyn Phillip, on Sunday.
In the legal correspondence obtained by Guardian Media, Ramkhalwhan claimed that the request was based on information Persad allegedly received from a whistleblower last week.
In the WhatsApp message attached to the FOIA request, the whistleblower claimed to be an employee of the corporation and alleged that the corporation was hiring people wrongly on contract. Persad requested the disclosure of the corporation’s policies, practices, and procedures in relation to hiring people on fixed-term contracts, a list and number of people hired on such contracts between 2015 and this year, and whether those hired during the period underwent a competitive recruitment process.
He also requested all internal and external advertisements for the positions, as well as the list and number of people who were interviewed before the candidates were selected. He also questioned whether the Cabinet or the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) had approved the corporation hiring people without a competitive recruitment process.
Persad’s FOIA request also sought the disclosure of the corporation’s financial statements and information on the contracts that were awarded by the corporation over the past decade.
Ramkhalwhan claimed it is imperative that the corporation discloses the information as part of its role in unveiling corruption and taking a firm stance against nepotism and undue political influence.
“Transparency not only upholds ethical standards but also reinforces public trust, fostering an environment of accountability and integrity within government operations,” Ramkhalwhan said.
“By divulging this information, the corporation demonstrates a commitment to upholding the principles of fairness and impartiality, thereby safeguarding the public interest and promoting a culture of responsible governance,” he added. Ramkhalwhan claimed that the financial records were requested because the Auditor General’s annual report, which was also attached to the letter, indicated that it had failed to provide the statements as required.
“This is not just an isolated omission on the part of the corporation, rather, it represents a flagrant and sustained disregard for their statutory duty to submit financial statements over the years,” he said.
“The FOIA’s applicant’s inquiry into the corporation’s expenditure is intertwined with the imperative to investigate allegations of non-competitive and politically motivated hiring practices,” he added.
Ramkhalwhan stated that his client would consider filing a lawsuit over the issue if the information is not disclosed by August 1.
Two Fridays ago, Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Dr Rai Ragbir broke ranks with the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) to vote with the People’s National Movement (PNM) Government on the Whistleblower Protection Bill in Parliament.
In a subsequent interview, Ragbir sought to explain that his decision was based on complaints by his constituents over alleged corruption within the corporation.
“I wish to remind my party, as well as the nation, that the primary reason I voted in favour of this bill is the numerous concerns expressed by individuals regarding certain actions within the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation,” he said.
“Many people were afraid to report these matters to the police. I have no doubt that this legislation will benefit the people of Cumuto/Manzanilla and the entire country,” he added.
The corporation’s chairman has denied any wrongdoing at the statutory body.