A recent story in the Nation caught our attention. Dr. Denis Lowe, Minister of Social Care and Urban Development, was reported to be launching a forensic audit after he learned that a $50,000 house paid for by the Government had cost over $10,000,000 paid to friends, consultants, and the usual grifters and thieves that hung around our last government.
UPDATE: Yes folks. That ten million dollars is the correct figure. 100% Correct. Inside source. NO DISPUTE AT ALL. That is just one incident of how bad things were under the BLP, and how bad a situation we now face with an empty treasury. Somebody better go to jail for this – but we don’t think the current government has the courage.
<<<Here is the article (click to open)
We have heard nothing since and don’t expect we will ever hear of it again even though it is obvious that people should be jailed for this larceny of the public purse.
Then we got another perspective. The following is an open letter from one of Minister Lowe’s staff. He is right when he complains that by hiding all of this Denis Lowe is doing no service to those honest and hard working people around him. From the outside it looks like they are all crooked because we can’t tell the difference.
At the writer’s request we have withheld their identity and changed some of the wording to a different writing style, but we look forward to the day when honest people like this won’t have to cower in fear.
We call on Minister Denis Lowe to identify those that are involved in the investigation. That way the innocent can sleep more peacefully and the guilty will suffer having the public judge for themselves. This would be far better than the way it is being done with no names, no penalties, and no repayment.
Lies Before The Election: Denis Lowe & David Thompson Promising Integrity Legislation
Open letter to Mr. Dr. Denis Lowe. Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Urban Development
I work for you. I work for the people of Barbados in your office and I have for a long time. I am an honest person. I am the honest man who works for you. I worked here for the people before you were elected and I need my job.
I was proud of you the day you stood up and pointed out that and said that there were big discrepancies that you are finding about employees here and contractors. I know you from way back. You have always been an honest man and hard-working. You come from and the people. Your own ability, integrity and honesty have made you what you are today. And yet you still owe a lot to the people who supported you and got you there.
I hope you are going to be able to clean up a lot of the problems here because you are fighting against a system that is built on greed, hidden dealings, and falsified records and mostly no records at all. “No paper trail” is the motto here.
Many here are honest people like me but we have been depressed because we have no power we have had no power to do anything. When we have questioned double contracts for the same work, no receipts, cheques paid to people that have no contracts with us we have been ridiculed and we have been threatened. Sometimes we have been offered money and because I have a family to feed it is been very hard to say no. But I have always maintained it is better to be honest than rich and I am now looking to you to in the hope that you’re going to fix things up because they keep getting worse around here.
Be careful though. Some people here are saying you’ll never last. Some people say you are ridiculous and they’ll get around you. Some people are saying that they’re going to dig up some dirt on you. And they are serious because that’s how they’ve always done it.
Now that you are doing audits here things are going to come out. I hate to say this you’re going to have to fire some people who are expose them because that is the only way the rest of them will think that you’re serious. Prove that you are serious.
The me as honest man and others like me believe that we can make things better starting now. We should be allowed to ask questions and we don’t get answers you have to get the answers and make them give you the answers. If they don’t that’s when you’re going to have to get tough otherwise you’ll never fix this.
It’s nice to see that you have some accountants trying to figure of what happened in the past but word around here he is you won’t be able to because of the way things were done. Okay, fine, there are still records in the banks of some of the checks that were written. They can’t hide those. Information in my files are missing when you need them. Some have been stolen from me and I can find them. Where have I hope and pray that you are going to be the man to fix this. There is too much going on to list here but in the last two years more money has been paid for getting nothing done than real results.
There was never a place to report this and even if you did it usually ended in being told to shut up and get back to work. There have I think you’re an honest man and there are lots of honest people here working for you. Show us some encouragement and leadership and will help you clean it up.
I am looking to you Mr. Lowe to put this all right. It would be a show of support and encouragement for me and others like me to see the right thing done. We need this as a good start to being able to do things right from now on.
We also need it so that we can hold our heads high as being people who live by the good book and are not among those who steal and cheat the government. Please make us proud.
Signed,
V.
36 Comments
September 8, 2008 at 11:18 am
No-one will be called to account.
No heads will roll.
No-one will do one day in jail.
That’s not how we play the game of politrix here in neo-Africa
September 8, 2008 at 11:36 am
Years ago I heard a story of two women cussing stink. The little daughter of one of the women told her mother. ” mummy, tell she bout she big foot befoore she tell ya bout yours.” Is this what the DLP is doing, telling us about the teffing before we hear about theirs? unless or until some government stop this foolishness and bring some people to justice, they too are just as guity. When the BLP got into office millions of dollars were spent on the St. Joseph’s Hospital, now we hear documents lost. Not acceptible. Now we’re hearing about more stealing, this time from the BLP. Bring someone to justice or shut up or you the DLP is just as guilty. We’re tired of this foolishness, those days are gone, continue it and you too will go.
September 8, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Yup. old time politrix is fast drawing to a close, and I don’t think the average Bajan politician(both sides!)
has quite yet cottoned on to how much tech things like the internet have changed things.
The DLP needs to either talk out frankly about what economic conditions it found(WHAT are they hiding from us?)
or get on with their alleged business of prosecution(ain’t gonna happen!).
FISH OR CUT BAIT, dread!
September 8, 2008 at 1:53 pm
“Sometimes we have been offered money and because I have a family to feed it is been very hard to say no. ”
Did the writer of this letter accept money from corrupt people or not?
“There was never a place to report this”
Did the writer at any time consider reporting the theiving to the police? And if not why not? And how does the letter writer expect Mr. Lowe or any other politican to fix things when the writer was/is unwilling to report to the police? And no doubt is also unwilling to testify in court.
September 8, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I think it is admirable and very brave of this person to come forward with this letter and I hope they do not suffer any repercussions as a result.
I can’t help but wonder if these criminal civil servants are of the mind set that they have been doing it for so long that they think of it as an entitlement.
Time to root these people out and the sooner the better. Thievery from government coffers should be dealt with in the harshest manner.
September 8, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Tip of the iceberg.
September 8, 2008 at 2:16 pm
BFP are those figures correct? 10 million dollars paid out for a 50 thousand dollar house?
The Government cannot expose the persons involved until they are charged with fraud or theft or whatever.
The DLP has a clear choice. Prosecute persons who have defrauded the Government or lose the next election.
They won the last election because the electorate believed them when they accused the BLP of corruption and mismanagement.
Now the public needs to see the proof or this will be a one term Government.
September 8, 2008 at 3:52 pm
BFP, surely you mean $100, ooo and not $10, 000, o00?
September 8, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Time for Dr. Denis to show us what he is made of and put this right.
And what about the govt employee in your riding that paid big cash for his house and no where he could have got that or else by something underhanded? Investigate and report please, you promised and we voted for you.
September 8, 2008 at 5:44 pm
heard it was over 8 million for sure- Dr Lowe can confirm
September 8, 2008 at 5:56 pm
If Dr Lowe can’t get to first base quickly with charges on such an incredibly blatant theft of public monies, think how entrenched the corruption has become at all levels.
The police should have fully and rigorously investigated and the prosecutor should have laid charges by now.
Oh sorry! How silly of me. I forgot the Director of Public Prosecution is the same one that sent police to manhandle Ronja Juman at 2 AM in the morning in order to intimidate her and collect his rent.
September 8, 2008 at 6:47 pm
From $50 thousands to $10 million for a house. Come on anonymous “honest” writer that’s trying protect his job, this is a clear cut case for police intervention. If an audit trail cannot trace a humongous figure of $9.5 million dollars how on earth can you trace petty cash amount of $2 million from Hardwood.
It is either you charge someone or shut your mouth and perform.
September 8, 2008 at 6:48 pm
We have had enough of this politics. Everytime a government is changed, we hear about stealing, then when this same government changes, we hear about stealing again, and the beat goes on. Well enough is enough, bring some-one to court or this DLP government will become very unpopular very quickly. This school boy politics has got to change. Can’t keep taking big people for a ride.
September 8, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Pied Piper wants to fire the entire Civil Service??!
Great idea!
The whole goddam lot of them are corrupt!
From the DPP on down.
All the Big McGuffy Perm.Sec’y riding the big BMW’s
..the whole lot of them want firing.
Barbados is at least as corrupt as Trinidad.
We’re just better at(and care more about) polishing our veneer of respectability, that’s all!
September 8, 2008 at 11:45 pm
The only people who will be brought to justice will be No Body , Ain’t some Body and Wanna Be Somebody.
September 9, 2008 at 12:35 am
Then this government, like the last one would spend millions of the taxpayers money and put all the blame and crucify Mr Nobody and his entire family, while Mr & Mrs Somebody slips the country with the dough. Then ALL-A-We get hit with more taxes to steady the ship. “Politicians laughing at we,” that is the title of my calypso for cropover next year, if it still would name so.
September 9, 2008 at 12:42 am
Somebody just called me and want to make a block-buster comedy movie from what I just posted. I have the rights to the topic “Politicians laughing at we.” Two very prominent bajans are slated to co-star this movie. More on that later. Meantime any further suggestions as star/s and cast is welcome.
September 9, 2008 at 12:58 am
BFP
Have I said something wrong that you are with-holding my earlier comment/s? You have posted awaiting moderation. What moderation?
*************
BFP says,
Please read the tab at the top about comment moderation and you’ll know!
September 9, 2008 at 11:00 am
Dennis Lowe is NOT CAPABLE of being honest or doing the right thing. This us a man who still owes bills everywhere. He still has not cleared his massive rent arrears. You simply cannot expect to remove a man from the gutter while simultaneously removing the gutter from him. The fact of the matter is Dennis Lowe has the distinct potential to be one of the crookedest politicians that we have ever seen about here. SO DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR THIS PIECE OF SLIME but then again I may be giving your bad advise here maybe I should encourage you to hold your breath because he stinks to high heavens.
September 9, 2008 at 11:57 am
You sound so much like Reginal Farley it is Sad To Say.
You must also state that he is doing a great job in the Ministry he is managing.
September 9, 2008 at 8:08 pm
10 million
man that is big LIE
September 9, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Sad to Say……your tirade is the epitome of a discarded BLP milk box !
September 9, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Sad To Say,
Nothing to compare to your bunch of vagabonds.
He has my full support and the support of the majority of Bajans, remember the 20 to 10 scoreline you were lucky you did not have another 2 weeks to campaign as it could well have hurt you even more, so whats your problem?
September 10, 2008 at 12:18 am
Lowe is the man
Maybe ifelections were called now a lot like me would vote differently. I think I got fooled. Fool me once , shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. You can’t fool me so again.
September 10, 2008 at 3:16 am
Dr Lowe says all the right things and worked hard to get where he is, but will he deliver the ITAL he promised and will people be soon charged and convicted?
Lets hope that Sad to Say doesn’t get to say “I told you so”.
September 10, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Cu’mon Dr. Lowe if you are a man of the people at least give us enough details to know was it hundred thousand or million or what?
You can tell us how much by now can’t you? We need a leader like you to set the record straight and stop all the jaws talking.
September 11, 2008 at 2:31 am
This is going to be a real Thorny issue. Heads need to roll.
September 11, 2008 at 10:29 am
For the record I am no party’s yardfowl. I voted for the DLP on Jan 14. However, I wear no political blinkers – unlike some of you posting on this thread. And Reggie Farley should be in jail – if I had my way. However, the FACT REMAINS that Dr. Dennis Lowe is one of the most lean and hungry members of the government. He did not pay his rent, his landlady (I have my facts) always had to run him down and barring the multiplicity of excuses the check was always in the mail. Furthermore as result of his questionable financial status and the fact that he is always trying to sleep with 1/2 of his female constituents he was far from being a unanimous choice for his party as the rep for his constituency. As a matter of fact persons left this branch for other DLP branches. So even within the party there are many who have identified his weaknesses. So to my fellow DLPites I suggest that you do some homework before criticizing me when I write “Dennis Lowe is NOT CAPABLE of being honest or doing the right thing”. If you force my hand I can present more evidence to back up my claims that “Dennis Lowe has the distinct potential to be one of the crookedest politicians that we have ever seen about here” – At the end of the day he can actually make Farley look like a saint.
September 11, 2008 at 11:22 am
Sad To Say
If he can make Farley look like a saint, then he real bad fa trute.
September 11, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Seems the ball is in Mr. Lowes’ court to show his hand now or else be tarred with the same brush as the other Dems who pilfering and not paying their bills.
September 11, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Just heard that Abdul Pandor has submitted a proposal costing 22 million to the BDS government f0r a forensic engineering audit of 3SS work on the ABC highway. I heard that Pandor has started his work. I am asking BFP to please investigate.
September 12, 2008 at 2:40 am
Sad to Say
sounds like there is more money in forensic auditing than nefariously stealing public monies through inflated offshore BOLT projects?
There are many good international forensic auditors and this needs to be put out to a tender and the details of the audit need to be extensive and expansive enough to be able to support criminal actions to send the wrongdoers to jail.
September 12, 2008 at 4:09 am
Reality Check: My sentiments EXACTLY. The more things change the more they remain the same. Ut is 6 of one half dozen if the other. Apparently the BDS Government has not agreed to the Pandor figgure, however, the very fact that he and his companies have started work is a bit baffeling to say the least. The faithful at MTW were wondering if there was a mistake – i.e. if 22,000,000 may have meant to look like 2,200,000. However, when they examined Pandor’s detailed brief they realised that their eyes were not playing tricks on them.
September 12, 2008 at 4:22 am
I find it interesting that the DLP Yardfowls have gone silent especially now that they have been confronted with FACTS. For their information there is much more to come.
If the election were held today I WOULD STAY HOME… Knowing what I know now about this DLP admin I could not see me casting my X for these wannabe crooks.
I have had enough of the BLP and now the DLP is showing that they intend to outdo what the BLP did in three terms in less than one term – this is quite troubling.
I, like many other fellow Bajans, will NEVER support a deranged idiot like David Commisong, however, I think that those of us with the moral fortitude to buck the system that has been hijacked by a bunch or liars, idiots and thiefs should soon start crawling out from under our respective rocks.
Our failure to present an alternative will be tantamount to abdicating our responsibility to do the best for OUR country.
Our time is now let us make the most of it.
September 16, 2008 at 1:04 am
Sad to Say well said.
September 16, 2008 at 4:49 am
This Pandor is the same guy that ran for the DLP in B’town once, is chairman of the NHC and along with Don Blackman made the St. Kitts gov’t smell s@i#e over a road? Well what next?
Where Lowe get he doctorate from and in what?