Democratic Labour Party to be investigated by the Public Accounts Committee for possible corruption

In an ironic twist, in Barbados. The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) will be drafting and filing a resolution in Parliament against the governing Democratic Labour Party (DLP), next week.

Building Contracts awarded by the National Housing Corporation (NHC) between December 2008 and August 2010 could be subjected to investigation by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.

The purpose of the Public Accounts Committee is to examine the accounts showing the sums granted by Parliament to meet the public expenses, the accounts of any entities in which Government is a majority shareholder, or holds a majority interest, and of any other accounts which may come before Parliament as the Committee may think fit.

Opposition Leader Mia Mottley announced last Sunday while addressing the BLP's St Thomas branch at Lester Vaughan School, she will be seeking answers behind the goings ons of the National Housing Corporation, the Ministry of Housing, and by extension the Minister of Housing, Michael Lashley.

Miss Mottley said that because of the recent dismissal of the former chairperson of the NHC, Marilyn Rice-Bowen, there are four charges in the public domain that demands immediate answers.

Marilyn Rice-Bowen was dismiss as the Chairman of the National Housing Corporation, and has publicly criticized Minister of Housing, Michael Lashley over his leadership of that ministry.

Rice-Bowen accused Lashley of by-passing the NHC board in making decisions when it came to projects funded by the Corporation. "Regrettably, in some instances, the Board was never accorded the opportunity to give due or any consideration to and/or make the appropriate recommendation in respect of some NHC projects", Rice-Bowen said.

She said though she had received no explanation as to the reason for her termination, but believes because of the attitude and disposition, on the part of the Minister (Michael Lashley) ultimately led to an impasse between the Minister and herself and ultimately, termination as chairman of the Board.

Why is Investigation of the DLP ironic?

The leader of the BLP will be putting in place an investigation of the awarding of housing contracts by the DLP. What is ironic about this is that while in opposition, the DLP had accused the BLP government of major corruption, yet no investigations were ever put in place, after acquiring the government.