Exhibit #1
Exhibit #2
Why Did Stanton Alleyne Take Money From A Government Contractor?
It is very simple folks. Really simple.
Back on March 12, 1999, Stanton Alleyne as the acting manager of the Barbados Sanitation Service Authority wrote an official SSA letter to the Manager of the Caribbean Commercial Bank informing the bank that “Andrew’s Builders” had been contracted to refurbish the SSA’s recreational facilities for the sum of $130,000.
That letter appears below.
Then one week later on March 19, 1999, Stanton Alleyne cashed a $500 cheque made out to him by Andrew Builders and signed by none other than Andrew Thomas – the same government contractor hired for the $130,000 renovation at the SSA.
Once more on April 8, 1999, Stanton Alleyne cashed another $500 cheque again made out to him personally by Andrew Builders/Andrew Thomas.
There was a reason for the cheques. When the SSA Board recently became aware of the cheques, they asked Mr. Stanton Alleyne about that reason, and he refused to explain why a government contractor gave him the thousand dollars.
Mr. Thomas says that the reason he gave the money to Alleyne was clear. It was as a corrupt “compensation” for his being awarded the government contract at the Barbados SSA. Mr. Thomas even swore to that in writing in front of a Justice of the Peace.
In other words, the money was a kickback from a government contractor to a government official. A big “Thank you for the government contract.”
The cheques are at the top of this article. Both letters appear below.
In true Barbados fashion, Stanton Alleyne still works at the SSA – and he still refuses to provide any explanation for the cheques.
But what do we expect? This is Barbados where the former Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, took a $75,000 cheque and corruptly deposited the same into his personal bank account. Owen Arthur faced no consequences for his action, and neither will Mr. Alleyne.
Our whole society is corrupt from the top on down. Even the Chief Justice is a political hack appointed to stack the courts. He had never been a judge before, but that didn’t stand in his way because he was appointed for a reason.
There are reasons for everything, folks…. but the corrupt elites never provide any reasons to the public. Why should they? Like Owen Arthur and Stanton Alleyne, they know that even if they get caught taking a cheque… nothing will happen.
Welcome to Barbados… Not the most corrupt nation on earth, but some are trying to make it so!
Further Reading
Barbados Underground: Documents At The Centre Of The Recent Sanitation Service Authority And National Union Of Public Workers Dispute, Exposed
BFP: Source: Barbados SSA Corruption By BLP Minister Liz Thompson, Andrew Thomas – Conflict of Interest By Stanton Alleyne
Garbage Strike Is A Side Issue In The National Debate About Corruption In Public Service
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20 Comments
July 11, 2008 at 10:04 am
So this is how you can get thousands out of the government pocket. First you either need to be a Manager, a Permanent Secretary, a minister or a friend of all the mentioned and wallah, the Sir Grantleys’ a come rolling in.
Thanks BFP now let me see how quickly I can reach these top positions.
Hmmm gotta know some body on the inside but who will that be….A POLITICIAN….Hmmm Would I need qualifications to mask my corrupt nature…not if I Mighty like Gabby I know how to jump ship and beg. Should I befriend a contractor but then again I need to make sure that the contractor don’t stab me in the back like Stanton Alleyne.
But how do I know I could trust them, after all, them might do the bajan (talk when the heat is on) so I do not know who to trust. Well at least I know I got more sense than Stanton Alleyne not to accept cheques that can be back track (Stupid idiot). Now he got to come up with an air tight plan on how he can get back into the money flow ( because the money cart upset (for the time being) maybe he call Owen or Mia to see what new strategies they devising for their next power reign and squandermania).
Darn this might be harder than I thought, I cannot set up a dummy company in my family name cause this PM might investigate; put me poor family in trouble. OH GOSH what can I do I need to get back into the money do of things. All that free money does come in handy. Good for accumulating frequent flyer miles, lavish living and good showing off, buying nice cars and buidling nice houses on free land (Gliny boy help me out) and wuhlawds not forgetting the honeys (but gotta be careful not to sow any little bunnies dem expensive is france). Got to devise a plan, MIA you there girl help me out, how I could accumulate more asses and make them believe my 3.5 million declaration.
MAN I NEED MONEY FAST: WAIT you know something bajans got short memory Tommy probably doing all this to mek dem happy then he gline start carrying he dollars to be laundered. Maybe if I sing the first Noel they might be take me in and make me an instant millionaire. Or maybe not they like to threaten your life and sue you or worst yet they might Lynch me like Ellis. Got to be careful here best thing to do is wait until the Ministers tell me it is time to pick up the laundry. I gone bozie
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BFP says,
As a government official, it is much easier to steal and not get caught if you simply award the contract to a family member, or to your own company. That is why the DLP will not change the rules to prohibit this behaviour.
July 11, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Yes this is exactly how it has been done for years except Stanton Alleyne was dealing in small numbers compared to Owing, Shorey, Nicholls, MIA and the rest of the boys.
Its not yet illegal in Barbados to tender a contract, directly or indirectly, to yourself, your family and your friends taking a piece of the action on the way through no matter how bad the contract is for the taxpayers of Barbados or the fact that there are more competent companies and indivduals to do the work.
We are still waiting for the legislation with strong enforcement teeth.
Wonder why it wasn’t immediately introduced into Parliament?
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BFP says,
Hi RC,
We believe that while the legislation is coming (ha… so is Christmas 2010) the Prime Minister could immediately set as a government policy that no contracts are to be issued to companies where a government official or any of his close family (spouse, children, siblings, parents) have an interest.
That could be done this very afternoon with no law at all.
Simply a policy change right at the top.
July 11, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I am not questioning the documents or anything like that, but I have a question for some so called small businessmen.
When will they stop writing cheques to individual persons and start writing them to the organisation? Sometimes it is not the inpropriety but the perception on inpropriety that is the downfall.
If you are hired by an organisation to do a job, what the hell you doing writing cheques to an individual?
July 11, 2008 at 12:41 pm
First I heard it was for car rental then I heard it was for purchasing of foreign currency. Now, I note that the second cheque is dated April 1,1999…. So some one is playing us for fools
July 11, 2008 at 12:54 pm
The unions appear to be winning right now. However, if the unions persist in flexing their muscle in support of every shite, whether its reasonable or not they will eventually destroy their credibility and when there is real issue they will be useless. The working people will be the losers in the long term.
I am sure that just about every worker at the QEH has had a probationary period. Nobody, could get me to strike over a HR manager who has a contract that did not include probation. What was so special about that worker? Exactly what is the unions point here!
July 11, 2008 at 1:06 pm
My bigger problem with this is the Union’s willingness to jump in and support an individual regardless of the facts surrounding the matter.
I respect the purpose of the Union and while they are entrusted with the duty to be a champion for the people; that does not mean they should do so irrespective of principle, morality, integrity or ethics.
By condoning such conduct, their actions are giving Bajans a sense of entitlement and the power to conduct themselves in an improper (or even illegal) without fear of consequences.
This is one of the key reasons why customer service in Barbados is so poor in some institutions; for example, I’ve had some employees with really poor job performances and some that were downright rude to customers and when I’ve tried to counsel them they have threatened to “go to the Union”.
The people also have to realize when the Union’s short-term actions have long-term consequences (for the people and this country, in this case think garbage piles and tourism) and they should not blindly follow but hold them accountable when the Union oversteps ethical boundaries.
Come on Barbados, don’t be lemmings! Think, think, think!!!
July 11, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Didnt the government fire him? and then didnt the Union get in a puff and put all of its workers on strike to support a man who is obviously a crook?
I’m blaming the union for this. The government appeared to have done the correct thing in firing him the first time but the union strong armed them into rehiring him. Shame shame on the union.
July 11, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I agree, the unions have to be extremely careful here in terms of long term impact. The anti-union elements will eventually be able to make a strong case in blaming the unions for the inability of institutions to deliver.
This apparent policy of supporting security of tenure whatever the circumstances or for nay level of employee will backfire big time
July 11, 2008 at 4:42 pm
The Unions don’t give a rodent’s rectum about the future!
Like lawyers, their job is to get the perpetrator OFF!
Future? Dah is fuh ppl who think ahead more than one weeks salary,man.
July 11, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Maybe the unoins have to pay the piper, you never know take a closer look.
July 11, 2008 at 7:47 pm
You private sector gossips are to laugh – $1,000 for a 130-K contract? So what if Alleyne had hired cars? His PR man is on TV every Saturday hosting Double Draw – that is illegal too? Mechanics at the workshop have their private practice; accountants help folk do Income Tax; Police own ZR’s – we do what we must to get by! $400 for Road Tax, more for alcohol, cigs & lottery winnings? Wage restraint? What next to survive?
Look at the 1999 letter, it says “FOR MANAGER”, not Manager (Ag) like now, he had nil influence, even Thomas says he has nothing against Alleyne – it was smoke & mirrors to get money promised by the fmr Health/Environment Min who has a large pension now! The statute of limitations has passed!
Cheques were for private business not SSA duties, you’re all so desperate to crucify! Since you believe in transparency & accountability, reveal your own TRUE identities!!
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BFP says,
Oh? We didn’t realize that Mr. Alleyne had provided a public reason and rebuttal as to the cheques.
Perhaps you can direct our readers to it published on the web or elsewhere?
Of course, all this could have been avoided with Conflict of Interest rules that would have prohibited a government official like Mr. Alleyne from “doing business” of any kind with a person who was awarded a government contract.
Pretty standard stuff in most advanced countries.
July 11, 2008 at 10:30 pm
why wouldn’t ian bourne stop furnishing BFP with inside information?
July 12, 2008 at 9:59 am
Bless you BFP for being there so the dirty laundry can get aired out and maybe get washed and we be cleaner. Been going on too long.
July 12, 2008 at 11:23 am
As far as I am concerned the union only represents ‘bad behave people’.
July 12, 2008 at 11:45 am
It is, I guess, possible, but not probable, that there is an innocent explanation for these cheques.
It is probably the case that there should have been a better process – suspension and independent hearing/judgement – and it is possible that this is what the union is concerned about. Though I sometimes wonder.
Perhaps if Mr.Stanton had nothing to hide he would voluntarily declare his assets for a bit of public scrutiny. It would for one, avoid temptation getting the better of the future CEO and insisting on cash over cheques…..
July 12, 2008 at 2:47 pm
[...] Have a read [...]
July 12, 2008 at 3:39 pm
This little island is a can of worms!
(Most small islands are..btw)
July 12, 2008 at 8:20 pm
so what its only a thousand dollars isiots
July 13, 2008 at 1:28 am
my garbage is get pick up regulary. Wuh else yuh want me to worry about? alleyne must be doing a good job left the man and the ssa.
July 13, 2008 at 2:59 am
lock him up.. If he is found to be guilty of bribery .. insure he had is stay at Dods..