Baptiste wants investigation into failed Call Centre

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Nov. 16, 2008 - A Former Opposition Leader wants the new Tillman Thomas administration to launch an investigation into the failed Grenada Call Centre which has cost the state millions of dollars.

Michael Baptiste says the government needs to act quickly to ensure that these monies are recovered especially in the economic crisis facing the country.

The Keith Mitchell-led government has been accused of allowing more than six million dollars in dividends from the then Cable & Wireless Ltd to be paid against monies owed by Grenada Call Centres Inc.

According to a 2004 report from the Director of Audit Anselm Joseph, dividends totaling $7,835,287.05 was paid by Cable & Wireless to the Government of Grenada in December 2002. $1,146,876.72 was paid by cheque and the remainder, $6,688,410.33 was set off (apparently with the Ministry of Finance approval) against monies owed to Cable & Wireless by Grenada Call Centres Inc.

“It should be noted that only $1,146,876.72 was recorded in the accounts. As a result of this omission, revenue was understated by over 6.6 million dollars on this single transaction, Joseph said.

Baptiste said that the government must give this situation urgent attention as they promised when they were in opposition.

“This present government when they were in opposition they spoke about a lot of the Call Centre and everyone is now surprised that they didn’t make that a top priority to get these monies return to the treasury,” Baptiste told GrenadaBroadcast on Sunday.

“If the government doesn’t have a copy of the original agreement of the Call Centre and I will make one available to them because I believe I have a copy and I don’t think there is any around because I believe the records were destroyed”.

The Grenada Today newspaper had reported that the former Prime Minister has assured Parliament that his family members would repay their portion of the multi-million dollar loan that was taken to set up the Call Centers at the Seamoon Industrial Park in St. Andrew's.