The T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce is urging the Prime Minister and her government to make every resource available for a thorough and timely investigation manner into the Life Sport programme and any person found responsible to be prosecuted to the fullest extent the law allows.In a press release yesterday, the chamber also commended Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for instructing the Attorney General to forward the report of the Central Audit Committee to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the acting Police Commissioner for investigation.
It added: "However, we are greatly concerned and alarmed at the many discrepancies which were identified in the report, including poor control and management of the programme by the Ministry of Sport, instances of fraudulent activity by suppliers and even possible breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act."The chamber believes that transparency and accountability are imperative where the management and disbursement of public funds are concerned."
It said good leadership and governance dictated that those charged with that responsibility must be vigilant in the execution of their duties and accountable to the public where there were allegations of misconduct."The buck must stop with our nation's leaders, in both the public and private sector," the release added.The chamber also called for debate on the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Bill before Parliament went on recess by the end of the month."We urge the Prime Minister and the wider government to debate this bill with the urgency it deserves and not allow it to lapse," the release added.