Transport Minister Discusses Letter to C.E.O. Marconi Leal Jr.
A letter written to Chief Executive Officer Marconi Leal Junior on February twenty-third, by Minister of Youth, Sports and Transport Rodwell Ferguson, informs that as of that date, any financial transaction above five thousand dollars should be presented to him for scrutiny and approval. The decision to severely restrict the C.E.O.’s spending power, flies in the face of his office as the ministry’s chief accounting officer. Nonetheless, Leal’s political boss, rationalizes the move by stating that he is responsible for the overall budget allotted to the ministry. When we caught up with Minister Ferguson earlier today, we asked him about that decision and what prompted the immediate measures that have been put in place.
Isani Cayetano
“Speak to us about the letter that you wrote to your C.E.O. in respect of him seeking your expressed approval for any expenses above five thousand dollars.”
Rodwell Ferguson
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Youth, Sports & Transport
“Because I got some information and I put out the letter, but I will not go any further until I do my research and see exactly what went wrong, if anything went wrong within my ministry. I will not tolerate it. I just come back yesterday When I go back I will call my technical people together and I will do my investigation for myself.”
Isani Cayetano
“Minister, this seems to put a strain on the relationship between you and your CEO. It’s reminiscent of what happened in a past configuration where the previous Minister of Health had an issue with his CEO as well and it led to them being able to write a letter that limited her ability to spend.”
Rodwell Ferguson
“Because when I go to the National Assembly, regardless of what the system says, I go and vote for a part of the budget and I want that budget to be spent wisely and accurately and responsibly.”
Isani Cayetano
“Is it your belief, then, that is not the case or this hasn’t been the case?
Rodwell Ferguson
“I don’t want to say anything now until I do my own research”
