KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – A forensic audit underway at the state-owned International Airport Development Company (IADC) is seeing to unearth “the truth of what is taking place” after a fraud ring was uncovered there in February.
The forensic auditors will also help with “restructuring inside of the IADC itself,” Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said Tuesday.
IADC Communications Officer Jennifer Richardson-Herbert said in February that police were investigating a fraud ring at the company — charged with the construction of the EC$652 million Argyle International Airport.
Two junior employees colluded to defraud the company of EC$63,744 by billing for more food than was delivered to the company, Richardson-Herbert said.
The audit would also seek “to provide evidence for the police,” according to Gonsalves.
“I have not been advised since I returned whether the forensic audit is complete,” said Gonsalves, who was in Barbados for two weeks because of illness.
“If it is not complete, it should be nearing completion by now and for the report to come in and then we will know what is happening thereafter with the IADC and the police,” he said at a press briefing.
Richardson-Herbert did not responded to an I-Witness News email request for an update on the investigation two weeks ago.
I-Witness News was unable to confirm whether she received the electronic communication.