Police probing PTSC charters to PNM during 2010 general election

The Anti Corruption Investigative Bureau (ACIB) is probing the use of buses of the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) by the People’s National Movement (PNM) to transport supporters during the 2010 general election.

PTSC chairman Devant Maharaj has confirmed that the ACIB is asking the PTSC to provide documents relating to the charter of the buses by the PNM during the period March to May 2010.

The PTSC's new board has claimed that the PNM received preferential treatment and received huge discounts. Maharaj told the Guardian newspaper the ACIB is particularly interested in documents relating to that and wants to see minutes of board meetings.

The investigators also want to examine PTSC policies, rates applicable to the charter of buses, invoices, request for use of buses, internal memos and any other documents that are relevant to the investigation. And they are interested in interviewing former board members.

Maharaj told the paper the board is cooperating with the police and is making the necessary arrangements to hand over all documents as requested. 

 

The PNM has admitted that it is owing the PTSC $84,000 and has stated that it will settle the debt. Maharaj told reporters earlier this year the PTSC provided more than 150 buses  to the PNm during the election campaign.

 

He said senior members of the party abused their privielege and instructed certain PTSC officials to breach protocol and policies to make the vehicles available on demand. He said the party, which was in government at the time, received discounts of more than $1.5 million.