Workers at statutory body raise concerns about operations
CONCERNS have been raised about the administration and operation of a publicly funded social-support organisation following comments by Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday that the government has identified discrepancies within some statutory bodies.
Speaking at a town hall meeting in NewYork (NY) on Sunday, September 20, 2026 the prime minister said the new administration appointed a two-member team to conduct rapid assessments of statutory organisations after the New Democratic Party (NDP) took office.
Prime Minister Friday said a report conducted discovered discrepancies in some statutory bodies that need deeper investigation with the possibility of holding people accountable.
Following those comments, three individuals familiar with one social-support organisation contacted this publication and raised general concerns about the organisation’s operations.
The concerns include alleged delays in payments associated with social-support initiatives; questions about the use of financial resources; staff-management relations; employee turnover; and the administration of services intended to assist vulnerable members of society.
One person familiar with the organisation alleged that some beneficiaries had experienced delays in receiving assistance and questioned what happened to funds that had been budgeted for periods when payments were not made.
“If you are to get a certain amount of money a month from a government programme and you don’t get that money for three or four months, and then the fifth month comes around, why aren’t you being given the money that you missed out on, that has already been budgeted by the programme?
“Where is that money gone?” one of the persons questioned.
“There is no financial transparency, and if you ask any questions, it’s called insubordination and you get punished, picked on…there is just general aggression and the use of rules to punish you when you ask questions,” the person said. “There are instances where you are shouted at in public, or you are made to do over a task five times that was done properly the first time,” another person noted.
Yet another raised concerns about the payment of suppliers and service
providers, while also alleging that employees who raised questions about administrative matters sometimes faced difficulties within the workplace.
“When you ask questions, there are no answers. Programmes have missing payments, and no information of where the money is going.”
Concerns were also raised about working conditions, communication between management and staff, and what one source described as an unhealthy workplace environment.
The individuals also alleged that government agencies had previously made inquiries involving aspects of the organisation’s financial and administrative affairs. Those claims have not been independently verifi ed but it was mentioned that questions were asked by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), the National Insurance Services (NIS), the Labour Department and the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
“One time I went to ask about NIS payment in July and I was told that the last time I had one was May, and when I asked about it at work, the next few weeks, the payments were made,” the person said.
Questions were raised as well about the distribution of donated goods and whether all recipients met the criteria established for receiving assistance. One source also questioned the use of organisational resources for certain activities and expenditure, including trips overseas.
Another concern involved donated food items which, according to a source, remained in storage for an extended period and were subsequently said to have passed their best-before dates.
The persons stressed that their concerns were being raised because of what they believe is a need for greater transparency, accountability and improved management of public resources.
“There is not an opendoor policy, you have to message management… there is a repressive culture, and the environment is toxic and unhealthy. We can’t congregate, not even for the lunch hour…we are discouraged from eating together,” said one of the persons.
“We know what (money) we are getting and what the programmes cost but sometimes things just don’t add up,” said the individual who noted that the sponsorship of certain social events is also questionable as they do not see how these entities fit into the Fund’s mandate.
The sources said also that this entity was one of those visited by Dr. Friday’s assessment team.
The concerns come as the government continues its review of statutory bodies and considers whether matters identified through those assessments require further investigation.
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