Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre says Housing and Local Government Minister Richard Frederick has been placed on administrative leave while matters concerning the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF) are reviewed.
Pierre said the temporary measure is intended to allow the process to proceed without any perception that Frederick could influence it and stressed that the decision should not be interpreted as a finding of wrongdoing against the minister.
Frederick returned from vacation on August 28. Separately, he had previously been the subject of a police investigation into an allegation whose nature was not publicly disclosed.
Police Commissioner Verne Garde subsequently announced that the police investigation had been completed and that the allegation was “not sustained.” “That doesn’t mean that I think the minister is guilty. I never said so. The police made the pronouncements, not me,” Pierre said. “But for my own purposes, for my Cabinet’s sake, I want the minister to be away while this matter is being looked into.”
The Prime Minister’s comments come amid public scrutiny of the SSDF following the circulation on social media of images purporting to show SSDF cheques, accompanied by allegations concerning the circumstances and purposes for which some payments were made.
Those allegations have not been independently established, and no finding of wrongdoing against Frederick in relation to those claims has been announced.
Pierre said Frederick was asked to recuse himself so that the review could proceed without questions being raised about possible interference or influence. “This is why I asked the minister to recuse himself and stay away, so they cannot accuse me, him or anybody else,” the Prime Minister said. “Let all the matters be cleared, and after that I will take a decision on my Cabinet. That is the only reason, not because I think he is guilty. I just want him to be away while the matter is being dealt with.”
Pierre said the review must be comprehensive and impartial, adding that its credibility was more important than the speed at which it is completed. “I want it to be done thoroughly. I want it to be done with a level of impartiality. That is why he is not there, so that we can have credibility and I can take a decision as soon as I can,” he said.
According to the Prime Minister, work is also underway to address a backlog involving SSDF financial records. Pierre said he wants greater clarity surrounding the operations of the SSDF because of the agency’s important role in providing social assistance. “The SSDF is a very important institution. You do not get money easily these days for social interventions. It is very difficult, and that is why I want there to be clarity on the SSDF,” Pierre said.
The Prime Minister also outlined several controls he said should govern the disbursement of assistance by the agency.
He said recipients must provide identification, the purpose of payments must be recorded, and requests should be supported by appropriate documentation.
For health-related assistance, Pierre said applications should include an invoice from a doctor or medical institution and that funds should be used for the purposes for which they were approved.
He acknowledged that different arrangements may apply when the SSDF provides direct income support to people who have lost their jobs or require temporary assistance. Even in those circumstances, he said, recipients must be properly identified so payments can be verified.
Pierre added that infrastructure projects exceeding a specified value must be supported by a contract and bill of quantities and certified by a qualified SSDF official. “The SSDF is a social institution. It gives social benefits,” he said. “We put all these things in place to ensure that there is a proper audit trail.”
The Prime Minister warned that allegations surrounding the agency could damage public confidence and affect its ability to attract funding for social programmes. “This is social money, taxpayers from other countries giving money to help people in another country,” he said. “It goes beyond damaging me or the government. It damages the institution that supports poor people.”
Pierre confirmed that an acting minister has been appointed to oversee the housing and local government portfolios while Frederick remains on administrative leave.
He said government business within those ministries would continue and that Frederick remains the parliamentary representative for Castries Central, with his constituency responsibilities unaffected.
The Prime Minister did not indicate when the review would be completed or when a final decision would be made regarding Frederick’s Cabinet position.
