Kalinago Chief Lorenzo Sanford has written a strongly-worded letter of “cease and desist” to an unnamed councillor who had allegedly been using social media to spread rumours of embezzlement of Kalinago Council funds. The councillor was accused of leaking the details of meetings held in the council to members of the public and “fueling allegations against chief [Lorenzo] and fellow councillors”.
The warning against the errant councillor came after Opposition Senator Anette Thomas-Sanford told Parliament during the recent National Budget Debate that the Kalinago Council funds have been grossly mismanaged under the leadership of Lorenzo Sanford, and that the Minister for Kalinago Advancement and parliamentary representative for Salybia constituency, Cozier Frederick, had kept mute over the matter.
Senator Sanford accused Frederick of failing in his capacity to investigate the alleged embezzlement by requesting for the auditor’s report from the Commissioner for Local Government. She dared the minister to state his involvement in the withdrawal of funds from the Kalinago Council’s accounts with Marigot Credit Union and the First International Bank.
“Since he has been silent on this issue, I take this opportunity today in the highest court in the land, to ask that the Commissioner of Police and the investigating officers in the CID launch a criminal investigation into the allegations of misappropriation of funds in the Kalinago Council,” Thomas-Sanford stated.
Frederick in Parliament that day ignored Sanford’s allegations as he addressed other matters, but Lorenzo Sanford addressed the issue by warning Sanford to stop misinforming the public over Kalinago funds. In a subsequent letter to the councillor, the Kalinago Chief said his office will be publishing the recently audited accounts of the Kalinago Territory which had not been audited for 10 years.
Sanford became the Kalinago Chief eight months ago after defeating Senator Anette Sanford and other contenders in the race.
This article is copyright © 2020 DOM767
