OPM commences processing payments

According to a release issued by the Gender and Child Affairs Division of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the OPM noted recents statements by the IRO regarding the non-release of State funding to it since the People’s National Movement (PNM) assumed office in September 2015.

The OPM made it clear that in 2013, under the then People’s Partnership coalition, approval was granted to provide the IRO with an annual subvention in the sum of $250,000.00 for an initial period of five years with effect from May 2013. “To ensure transparency, accountability and continuation of payment, the IRO was required to submit quarterly reports on its activities and related expenditure and its Annual Audited Financial Statement.

This subvention is paid from funds allocated for ‘Ecclesiastical Bodies’,” the OPM said.

Following the 2015 General Election, the Ecclesiastical Affairs portfolio was transferred to the Community Development, Culture and the Arts Ministry; then to the OPM in 2016. “Research has revealed that the IRO was paid the sum of $62,500 for the quarter October to December 2015 in January of 2016, by the Ministry of Community Development Culture and the Arts,” the OPM stated.

The OPM requested the Annual Audited Financial Statements for 2016 and the quarterly reports for the period January 2016 to March 2017. The OPM said received the quarterly reports for the period June 2016 to March 2017 and the Annual Audited Financial Statements for 2016 from the IRO on April 18,2017. “The OPM has commenced processing the payment for the period June 2016 to March 2017,” the statement concluded.