It appears that friends and family of the ruling PNM knew about this slush fund and there was an active underground networking so as to ensure that nobody but the party faithful benefited. In 2008, the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS), upon learning of the existence of this slush fund, wrote the Integrity Commission.
Our letter reads in part: “Pursuant to the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000, the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Inc wishes to express its deep concern about revelation made in Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago concerning the conduct of former Minister of Culture, Community Development and Gender Affairs, Joan Yuille Williams, with regards to the distribution of secret scholarships.”
The Ministry of Culture, Community Development and Gender Affairs spent $46 million in financial grants to students at various tertiary institutions between 2003 and 2007.
Culture Minister Marlene McDonald, at a recent sitting of the Senate at the Red House, revealed that because these grants were not scholarships, the students were not required to sign any contract with the Government to give back service.
It is the opinion of the Maha Sabha that Minister Yuille-Williams contravened the Integ-rity in Public Life Act (2000)— specifically Section 24 (1a), (2a) and (3) 24 (1) which states:
It is the opinion of the Maha Sabha that Minister Yuille-Williams contravened the Integ-rity in Public Life Act (2000)— specifically Section 24 (1a), (2a) and (3) 24 (1) which states:
“A person to whom this part applies shall ensure that he performs his functions and administers the public resources for which he is responsible in an effective and efficient manner and shall: “(a) be fair and impartial in exercising his public duty;
“(b) afford no undue preferential treatment to any group or individual;
“(c) arrange his private interests whether pecuniary or otherwise in such a manner as to maintain public confidence and trust in his integrity. A person to whom this part applies shall not: “(a) use his office for the improper advancement of his own or his family’s personal or financial interests or the interest of any person; “(b) engage in any transaction, acquire any position or have any commercial or other interest that is incompatible with his office, function and duty or the discharge thereof; “(c) use public property or services for activities not related to his official work;
“(d) directly or indirectly use his office for private gain.”
It is difficult to understand how a reasonable person can understand what process and criteria were used by the minister to distribute scholarships/grants awarded at the Ministry of Culture.
“(b) afford no undue preferential treatment to any group or individual;
“(c) arrange his private interests whether pecuniary or otherwise in such a manner as to maintain public confidence and trust in his integrity. A person to whom this part applies shall not: “(a) use his office for the improper advancement of his own or his family’s personal or financial interests or the interest of any person; “(b) engage in any transaction, acquire any position or have any commercial or other interest that is incompatible with his office, function and duty or the discharge thereof; “(c) use public property or services for activities not related to his official work;
“(d) directly or indirectly use his office for private gain.”
It is difficult to understand how a reasonable person can understand what process and criteria were used by the minister to distribute scholarships/grants awarded at the Ministry of Culture.
These grants were: (a) not advertised, (b) covered a variety of subject areas not mercenarily related to culture, (c) imposed no obligation on the recipient to the nation for the grant.
Given the fact that funding from the Ministry of Culture for Indian Arrival Day, Divali and Phagwa were distributed months after these festivals occurred, the minister could be regarded as treating state’s money as her own. In fact I wrote a letter to Prime Minister Patrick Manning on August 13, 2007, about this minister’s behaviour long before this latest expose:
Cultural Grants—The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
Cultural Grants—The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
I wish to draw your attention to the behaviour of your Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs re: disbursement of cultural grants to the Maha Sabha.
This minister, Prime Minister, treats my organisation and our followers as if we are beggars for assistance through her personal generosity. She has refused to give a grant to our annual Baal Vikaas festival for June 2007. She has also refused to give us our annual Indian Arrival Day grant only because we complained.
To date we have not received the grant. Last year we received a grant of $200,000. This minister listens to the public complaints of others like Pan Trinbago, the calypsonians and people involved in Carnival, but does not withhold the grants that are due to them.
Last year she reduced the Maha Sabha’s Divali grant by 50 per cent, claiming that many of our groups were given grants directly. In the list of recipients (see attached copy), she has Caparo Hindu School, but we have no school in Caparo. I can list a number of organisations that do not in fact exist.
Last year she reduced the Maha Sabha’s Divali grant by 50 per cent, claiming that many of our groups were given grants directly. In the list of recipients (see attached copy), she has Caparo Hindu School, but we have no school in Caparo. I can list a number of organisations that do not in fact exist.
Mr Prime Minister, the Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs behaves as though the money disbursed to cultural groups, espe- cially the Maha Sabha, is her own personal money and unless we flatter her and pay homage, grants to my organisation will be withheld.
Last year, through the Race Relations Committee, you intervened and caused the chairman of Self-Help, Mr K Ramkumar, to appear before us.
Through your effort we were able to receive help for a number of our temples similar to our Christian brothers. I shall be grateful, Mr Prime Minister, if you receive a delegation from the Maha Sabha. Among the topics we wish to discuss is direct funding from the Ministry of Finance via a Cabinet decision. The list of topics to discuss with you will be detailed should you grant us an audience.
• Satnarayan Maharaj is the secretary general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
• Satnarayan Maharaj is the secretary general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
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