The word above is an appropriate description of the current scandal that has hit the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) government on the massive abuse of cellphones assigned to some persons including several operatives of the ruling party with no ties to the State.
THE NEW TODAY would like to give credit to political activist Kem Jones for breaking the story and putting it into the public domain as proof to Grenadians how their taxpaying dollars are being abused and wasted.
This newspaper is calling for Anande Trotman-Joseph and her Integrity Commission to launch an immediate investigation into the cellphone scandal and to give full disclosure to the public.
Economic Development Minister Oliver Joseph told reporters that there is a “cap” on the monthly use of cellphones and the Ministry responsible stated that it was $11, 000.00 a month.
However, the bill from Digicel indicated that in one month alone it was bordering on $130, 000.00 with former Senator Sheldon Scott by himself being responsible for $26, 000.00 alone in that month which is twice times the government cap.
This is madness. Sen. Scott has not been in the employ of the government for the past 3 years and the State has no right to be paying for his mobile phone usage.
This is a gentleman who is doing political propaganda work for the ruling party and should either pay for his cellphone or get his party to foot the bill but not the taxpayers of the country.
During the months of April to June, the taxpayers of this country had to pay $70, 000.00 for the cellphone being used by Sheldon Scott. If this is not corruption then the English dictionary has to come up with a different interpretation of the word.
The figures as seen from Digicel mean that the State was forking out each year $280, 000.00 to pay for Sheldon Scott to do the political work of the NNP.
THE NEW TODAY cannot find any other word but “scandalous” to describe this in light of the treatment given to persons in need of healthcare by government.
Almost every week, there is a fundraiser in the country with motorcade to raise money for somebody who is sick and cannot afford to pay their own medical bills.
However, the Mitchell-led government is finding on average $23, 000.00 every month to pay the mobile phone bill of one Sheldon Scott.
The Anande Trotman-Joseph Integrity Commission ought to look into this issue as a matter of urgency.
This newspaper is calling for full disclosure to determine the extent of the scandal including the time and places for the use of these mobile phones.
It appears that some of the phones were abused by persons who were not making calls to conduct state business but were engaged in their own personal pleasures.
The integrity Commission must determine whether there was such abuse and to recommend that the culprits pay for these errors of judgment on their part.
The Minister of Communication, Gregory Bowen and the Prime Minister should take the lead and either get the NNP as a party or Sheldon Scott to refund the State all monies paid for the cellphone being used by former Sen. Scott since he was removed as a member of government about three years ago.
It appears that the annual budget is an excuse in futility as this corruption should have been spotted years ago by those involved including the Prime Minister as Minister of Finance.
Everyone involved in the preparation and dispensation of the budget are culpable for this massive cellphone scandal and corruption and in a functioning democracy the Line Minister will tender his resignation forthwith.
There are those who have been caught in this web of corruption and should have known better that once they leave the government service they had a responsibility to regularise the situation.
The service provider Digicel is also equally culpable since it signed an agreement with government for a “cap” on the service and allowed it to be violated in a massive way.
Was Digicel working in cahoots with the government especially in helping it to advance its political propaganda work?
THE NEW TODAY is watching closely the steps that are taken by this government to get at the bottom of this cellphone scandal to see if any attempt will be made to sweep it under the carpet since many of its operatives are deeply involved.
This is just yet another major scandal involving the Mitchell-government in recent years to follow closely on the heels of allegations involving the Marketing Board and Shrimp Farm in Victoria, St. Mark.
Dr. Mitchell should be cognizant of the fact that despite winning three elections by wiping out his enemies 15-0, his legacy will remain tainted by presiding over successive governments steeped heavily in massive corruption and wrong-doing.