Some of the Social Cohesion Officers who were employed by the former A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) administration were paid their full salaries even though they were involved in “political work” during the national recount exercise at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC).
This information was revealed on Monday while the Parliament was examining the programme estimates for current expenditures in the Social Cohesion programme.
According to Minister of Governance, Gail Teixeira, some of those employed under the former Administration as social cohesion officers were present at the venue for the national recount.
“I know that a number of the social cohesion officers were in the recount. I am advised that they did not seek permission for leave to do that and so they did that unauthorizedly, however, they also were paid salary in the period when they were in the recount,” the Minister said in response to a question regarding the expenditures for the Unit.
She also revealed that the social cohesion officers were paid $181,769. per month and some of them may have been entitled to other allowances.
Questions were also raised in relation to the Ministry’s Strategic Plan. According to Teixeira, such a plan should have been made public for all citizens to be aware of what was being done to encourage social cohesion and peace in the country.
