Mark lashes out at VMCOTT

Mark, speaking at the PAEC meeting in Parliament, called for a look into the Auditor General’s financial report for VMCOTT from 2002 to 2004.

VMCOTT, a state agency, was set up by Government five and a half years ago primarily to repair and maintain National Security Ministry vehicles.

Its CEO Jerry Selby, Finance and Administration Manager Joel Browne and Arlene Mc Comie - Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport - were present at the meeting.

According to the Auditor General’s report, the company had been taking millions of dollars in loans, guaranteed by Government, to purchase vehicles and specialist software and hardware, for the National Security Ministry.

This prompted Mark to call on Selby to provide details of the specialist equipment they “were mandated to bring into TT illegally.”

“What provision allows you to become agents of the National Security Ministry? I would be calling them at the next meeting to say why they are paying you to buy vehicles and bring in surveillance equipment,” Mark said.

“That is not in your original mandate. You are violating the law which established the organisation. If VMCOTT has now become an agent of the National Security Ministry, we have to know,” the UNC Senator added.

Mark further claimed that VMCOTT was almost bankrupt and said it lost $6.8 million in 2002, $7 million in 2003, $6.4 in 2004 and $6.3 in 2005.

Selby said the company was originally supposed to repair and maintain all National Security Ministry vehicles, but according to Mark, the Fire and Prisons Services never came to them, the TT Army sent a minimal amount of vehicles and the police never sent more than 30 percent of its fleet.

He also said the police owed VMCOTT a substantial sum of money. Mc Comie said VMCOTT’s high pricing led the police to seek other garages to repair their vehicles.