Police probe Carmona housing allowance

In the letter dated January 3, 2017 from Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and addressed to Bharath’s attorney Justin Phelps, Williams acknowledged receipt of her letter dated November 28.

“Please be advised that the report made by Ms Bharath was forwarded to the office of the Senior Superintendent Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau where it is being diligently investigated by a team of officers. On completion, you will be informed of the findings,” Williams stated.

During a media conference in October last year Bharath reported that “I caused my attorney to write the Commissioner of Police enclosing the advice of Queen’s Counsel (QC) and requesting than an investigation into the President, the relevant CPO (Chief Personnel Officer) and the relevant AO (administrative officer) be undertaken.” She had revealed she had received a legal opinion from Cathryn Mc Gahey QC that a probe can be justified into the award of a housing allowance to the President.

Bharath had questioned the alleged payment of housing allowance between July 2013 to May 2015 whilst the President was in occupation of housing at the State’s expense.

In a brief interview yesterday Bharath told Sunday Newsday, “I am relieved and now I am hopeful that the investigation will be open and transparent.” Senior Counsel Martin Daly and former head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas have also publicly questioned the payment of the tax-free $28,000 housing allowance for President Carmona while living in State-provided accommodation.

In September last year, Bharath also questioned spending at the Office of the President and a $2 million discrepancy contained in the Auditor General’s report. One specific item of concern was wine procured from Italy which bore the seal of the Office of the President.