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Ministry permission unnecessary to use X5 in Customs fleet - Danville
Published: Friday | January 27, 2012 5 Comments
Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter A NEW twist has developed in the claims and counterclaims regarding the seized BMW X5 which former Jamaica Customs boss Danville Walker said he used while at that state agency.
Financial Secretary Dr Wesley Hughes told The Gleaner yesterday that the Ministry of Finance did not give authorisation for the high-end [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]vehicle[/COLOR][/COLOR] to be used by Walker.
Hughes was responding to Gleaner enquiries as to whether the ministry had granted permission to the former Customs chief to use the vehicle in question.
Walker told The Gleaner earlier yesterday that he had used the BMW X5, at times, for security reasons and special assignments, as well as when his 2007 [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Toyota [COLOR=blue !important]Land [/COLOR][COLOR=blue !important]Cruiser[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] Prado developed [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]engine [COLOR=blue !important]problems[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR].
Seeking to clarify the matter, the former Customs boss said the Ministry of Finance had given written permission for a fleet of vehicles seized by Customs to be used by the department.
Responding to the auditor general's report, Walker said the BMW X5 was not assigned to him.
"The vehicle was not assigned to me. It was assigned to the fleet," he said.
"I don't know that they (Ministry of Finance) would have to give me permission to use a vehicle in the fleet if something is wrong with [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]my [COLOR=blue !important]vehicle[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]," he contended.
Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis had pointed out that the ministry granted approval for five vehicles seized by Customs to be used as fleet vehicles by the Contraband Enforcement Team.
However, she noted in her annual report to Parliament that "one of the vehicles, a BMW X5, was subsequently assigned to a former employee, while the 2007 [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Toyota [COLOR=blue !important]Land[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] Cruiser Prado formerly assigned to him was placed in the department's fleet".
Not authorised
Walker has subsequently admitted that he had used the BMW X5 while he was the Customs head.
Monroe Ellis, in her report, stated that assignment of the vehicle to the former high-ranking employee was not authorised by the finance ministry and "may be deemed a conflict of interest".
Walker told The Gleaner yesterday that when Customs seized vehicles, the Ministry of Finance had to grant permission to the department if it wanted to use them.
He stressed that the vehicle was not assigned to him, adding that "using the vehicle is different from assigning the vehicle to me".
edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com
Published: Friday | January 27, 2012 5 Comments
Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter A NEW twist has developed in the claims and counterclaims regarding the seized BMW X5 which former Jamaica Customs boss Danville Walker said he used while at that state agency.
Financial Secretary Dr Wesley Hughes told The Gleaner yesterday that the Ministry of Finance did not give authorisation for the high-end [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]vehicle[/COLOR][/COLOR] to be used by Walker.
Hughes was responding to Gleaner enquiries as to whether the ministry had granted permission to the former Customs chief to use the vehicle in question.
Walker told The Gleaner earlier yesterday that he had used the BMW X5, at times, for security reasons and special assignments, as well as when his 2007 [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Toyota [COLOR=blue !important]Land [/COLOR][COLOR=blue !important]Cruiser[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] Prado developed [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]engine [COLOR=blue !important]problems[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR].
Seeking to clarify the matter, the former Customs boss said the Ministry of Finance had given written permission for a fleet of vehicles seized by Customs to be used by the department.
Responding to the auditor general's report, Walker said the BMW X5 was not assigned to him.
"The vehicle was not assigned to me. It was assigned to the fleet," he said.
"I don't know that they (Ministry of Finance) would have to give me permission to use a vehicle in the fleet if something is wrong with [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]my [COLOR=blue !important]vehicle[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]," he contended.
Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis had pointed out that the ministry granted approval for five vehicles seized by Customs to be used as fleet vehicles by the Contraband Enforcement Team.
However, she noted in her annual report to Parliament that "one of the vehicles, a BMW X5, was subsequently assigned to a former employee, while the 2007 [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Toyota [COLOR=blue !important]Land[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] Cruiser Prado formerly assigned to him was placed in the department's fleet".
Not authorised
Walker has subsequently admitted that he had used the BMW X5 while he was the Customs head.
Monroe Ellis, in her report, stated that assignment of the vehicle to the former high-ranking employee was not authorised by the finance ministry and "may be deemed a conflict of interest".
Walker told The Gleaner yesterday that when Customs seized vehicles, the Ministry of Finance had to grant permission to the department if it wanted to use them.
He stressed that the vehicle was not assigned to him, adding that "using the vehicle is different from assigning the vehicle to me".
edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com
butt him but nuh kill him... 
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