‘Gasboy’ still being abused
Posted on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 11:02 in Local News
(CNS): Full story -- Government has done very little to mitigate the risk of abuse of its fuel card system, Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick has found in his latest report, despite the revelations in 2010 by his office about the potential loss of some $500,000 per year to the public purse. In the latest report on the GASBOY fuel card system, published Tuesday morning, many of the problems first identified by the internal audit unit and exposed by the former auditor general have not been addressed. Swarbrick said that although the five agencies included in the first audit have made progress, the recent examination of a further twelve government entities has found many of the same failures and mismanagement.
He said he had found 97 gas cards still assigned to ex-employees within ten of the departments audited, some 65 cards assigned to employees who have no business need to have them and 28 employees with more than one fuel card issued in their name.
“I am disappointed that appropriate action has not been taken across government in the last two years to develop better practices for the distribution of fuel,” said Swarbrick. “The opportunity for abuse of the system is still a significant risk today.”
The report found that the overall control of the environment has not improved, leaving the system vulnerable to abuse and fraud.
However, Swarbrick did point to some significant improvements in the first five agencies reviewed in the original report. These entities were the highest consumers of fuel and most had acted on the recommendations of the previous auditor general, Dan Duguay, by addressing the surplus cards in circulation, documenting policies and procedures for fuel management and improving controls.
According to the work of the internal unit, the police, the Public Works Department, the Water Authority and the National Roads Authority all made efforts to address the problem. However, despite frequent requests for information, the Department of Environment Health failed to respond and the audit office was unable to establish if any measures had been implemented to stop the abuse, Swarbrick said.
The DoEH is the largest consumer of fuel of any government agency and although the department did not cooperate with the auditor general, according to its spending figures, since the last report it had reduced its fuel consumption by over $11,000. Between January 2008 and March 2009 the DoEH spent $48,714 on fuel, but between July 2009 and June 2010 that had dropped to $37,554.
The latest report shows that across government fuel spending has fallen by over $475,000. Although this was close to the figure which was estimated to be the amount being lost as a result of abuse and mismanagement in the original report, Swarbrick said the fall could also be as a result of other issues, such as fluctuating fuel costs as well as better controls by the top five users.
But Swarbrick pointed out that the same problems remained among the other agencies which were not previously assessed, even though many of themare in the same ministry as those in the original audit. Swarbrick said it was disappointing that the recommendations had been ignored by other government entities despite the widespread knowledge in the ministries of the recommendations.
“It is clear no one took responsibility in the rest of government to implement the recommendations,” Swarbrick said as he added that government had a duty to prevent abuse of public funds. “Action wasn’t taken across government, so there is still a significant risk.”
However, he said he was encouraged that the deputy governor has now made a commitment to take the lead on the issue and tasked all chief officers to implement the recommendations ahead of the introduction of a new system of fuel management expected to be in place by the end of next month.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Fuel Card Usage and Management Audit Final report_2012.pdf | 472.31 KB |
Email this pageViewpoints
Latest Classifieds
- **Botanical Slimming MSV - Strong Version***
- South Side Beach House for Sale
- 3.05 acres of Bluff land
- Large Spot Bay beach lot
- Affordable inland bluff lot
- 3 Bedroom house for sale
- Inland Bluff Lot wiith a view
- Affordable inland bluff lot
- Cayman Brac Braccanal Parade – Traffic Advisory
- Fs:BB Porsche P9881,BB Q-10,Z-10 BBM PIN CHAT (29309170)
Comment Policy
The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of CNS or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by CNS. Read more
Recent Comments
- He has a lot of confidence?
10 hours 7 min ago - You've spoken a mouthful
10 hours 11 min ago - It was not an earned degree,
10 hours 13 min ago - Give them the Deal, they were
10 hours 13 min ago - I think he means the theft of
10 hours 14 min ago - Sorry, this is just not true.
10 hours 15 min ago - Willie No-No!
10 hours 17 min ago - So true, Bobo
10 hours 18 min ago - Let the truth be told! These
10 hours 19 min ago - You tell em Willie No-No!
10 hours 20 min ago
Search
Join Our Mailing List
Follow CNS via ...
Facebook Twitter RSS
Comments
Name, shame and put them in
Name, shame and put them in jail, where they belong! Stealing is stealing!
Gotta catch them first, and
Gotta catch them first, and it's not going to be easy cause dey have gas, my friend.
I'm a civil servant who has
I'm a civil servant who has been given a gas card. Not once have I ever abused the process of fueling up my government vehicle, never have I 'loaned' it to someone to fuel up their personal vehicle, I have never given someone my secret pin number for it - I have only ever used it for my government business and my daily duties serving my country. I should also add that I'm incredibly grateful for my CINICO privliges and show my thanks by putting on my uniform and doing my bit everyday. Not all civil servant are evil, wicked thieves.
Where I live almost all
Where I live almost all public authorities (and that includes police and the ambulance service) stopped using centralised fuel supply depots years ago because the cost and inconvenience outweighed any savings.
As far as I can determine they now operate two options -
1. A card system that uses selected filling stations. The card is for the vehicle and the transaction is monitored on CCTV with a civilian version of ANPR checking the licence plate details. In fact that system could have easily been installed at the fuel depot on Grand Cayman and linked to a database of official vehicles to prevent unauthorised use when the problems were first identified.
2. Staff have to pay for fuel and recover the costs by producing a receipt along with a valid, itemised expenses claim.
The other move most public authorities have made to cut costs is restricting the use of official vehicles to official business. I know in the Cayman Islands many official vehicles are regarded by their drivers as 24/7 transport and used extensively (exclusively?) in lieu of their own vehicles.
The facts for 6.6.12,
The facts for 6.6.12, 09:48
List of the four worst offenders with employee demographics:
DOEH $11,160.00 increase. Employs 97 Caymanians & 32 Non-Caymanians.
NRA $11,216.00 increase. Employs 107 Caymanians & 7 Non-Caymanians.
WA $5,023.00 increase. Employs 123 Caymanians & 18 Non-Caymanians.
PW $2,658.00 increase. Employs 108 Caymanians & 25 Non-Caymanians.
That's a total of 435 Caymanians & 82 Non-Caymanians employed in the four worst offending departments, which means there's a 5:1 chance that an offender is Caymanian. That's not racism, it's statistics.
Apologies -- for each
Apologies -- for each department the word "increase" should read "decrease" otherwise the message is the same.
Does the lack of a signed
Does the lack of a signed release regarding the allowed usage of the card mean the thieves get a pass?
Really!!?? Do we need to inform people beforehand that taking what is not theirs is wrong?
Is that what we've come to?
Should A.L. Thompson's be required to have a waiver for hammers saying don't hit yourself in the head.
Common sense is dead in Cayman, honour and honesty have been long buries.
I cannot see how this is not blatant theft. And, similarly, do not understand hey the offenders are not being prosecuted. And those who allowed this shamed.
Some people just don't have a
Some people just don't have a conscience!! A thief is a thief and I hope all those thieves will be forced to pay Government back and they may have many sleepless nights. Are they entering the Church doors now?? May GOD have mercy on them on JUDGEMENT DAY!!
Country of christian thieves
Country of christian thieves with no pride?
Just further proof that in
Just further proof that in Grand Cayman laws are more like guidlines for "others" to follow. You can't change culture without education. Caymanian government has no intention of changing anything as long as they are in charge. When the UK takes over a lot of Caymanians will then need to take responsibility for themselves.
What a waste of government
What a waste of government monies. Give every Tom, Dick and Harry or Sally a gas card and what would you expect to happen.
Abolish the old system and create a new system that simply has a log book for each government owned vehicle and the gas cards get signed out on a need to use basis.
Create something, anything that has some semblance of a check and balance. Quit wasting money and fire the rats that abused the system. A little forensic accounting would ferrot out the thiefs quickly.
Now I understand why there
Now I understand why there was no pressure on government to reduce fuel duty
I know for certain one person
I know for certain one person that was given a gasboy card as an added 'perk' she happily fills up her personal vehicle for her personal business. In her mind she is doing nothing wrong.
Entitlement mentality,
Entitlement mentality, right? This person obviously has no appreciation that she's stealing from her friends and neibours; or she does but she doesn't give a shit. Either way she should be taken to task.
Yes, the higher your position
Yes, the higher your position the higher your entitlement is the mentality most definitely.
I'm pretty sure I work with
I'm pretty sure I work with that certain woman... She is over paid, under worked and think she deserves every cent. The corruption in my department is rampant and out of control
is she cute?
is she cute?
She isnt cute, but she has a
She isnt cute, but she has a VERY CLOSE relationship with the director and I mean VERY CLOSE No one else in the department has been given a card except her.
Not only does she have a very
Not only does she have a very unusal relationship with the director she has even swayed hiring policies to make sure her 'friends' have been hired on to the department. I have also seen her at the gov fuel depot fueling her private vehicle without a care in the world. The director offers her perks to help cook the books in both of their favors. You can't make this s&*t up people.
She sure sounds cute to me.
She sure sounds cute to me.
That is very sad, that people
That is very sad, that people don't even able to understand the difference between theft and a perk. What do they teach them every Sunday in churches?
If she's cute, it's not
If she's cute, it's not stealing.
I'm sorry to have to say
I'm sorry to have to say this: The truth is the overal life ethic of the majority of Caymanian civil servants is one of entitlement, provoked by the self-worth undermining policy of positive discrimination. If you're one of the civil servants stealing gas fianced by the public purse, and you honestly feel you're entitled to take it; that it's a perk of the job, YOU'VE LOST YOUR WAY IN LIFE. Your life ethic is f*#*ed up and you need to take stock of your flawed ideology of what does and does not constitute theft.
That's a frightening
That's a frightening indictment. Unfortunately it's true politicians have been using "poor poor Caymanian" to be able to get into office so often that many folks believe it. Therefore in their minds once they get on the CIG gravy train whatever they can get away with is ok....it's their country therefore it must also be their money. It also makes it pretty clear there is no solution when politicians can be elected not through a democratic process but through a rewards system vote for me....I'll hire more civil servants. You might be the lucky winner next time!
Listen Mr. Racist. The story
Listen Mr. Racist. The story reads Government workers/Civil servants - that includes foreign workers - with gas cards.
Let's wait and see who gets
Let's wait and see who gets taken to task. With 73% of the civil service being Caymanians, the odd are clear!
Very few foreigners have
Very few foreigners have these cards 9:48. It's all part of the "perks for us born Caymanians" scenario. Foreigners are excluded from these by Caymanian managers.
Bring prosecutions. It's the
Bring prosecutions. It's the only way to stamp out this cronyism.
Interesting that the Attorney
Interesting that the Attorney General's Dept (1 card) and the Juducial Dept (5 cards) have availed themselves of this service. Do you think they'd care to explain who holds those cards and who benefited?
Of course they won't! All
Of course they won't! All they'll do is accuse us of undermining confidence in the administration of justice.
Anyone noticed how the
Anyone noticed how the department which has failed to implement even one of the recommendations from the first review is also the one that has by far and away the largest expendiure on fuel per card in issue - over 4 times the typical amount spent by other departments.
They do have to fill up the
They do have to fill up the massive thirsty rubbish trucks, so hardly surprising
Robery at Government gas
Robery at Government gas station. Oh sorry it was carried out by Goverment employees so that's Ok!!!!!!
Sounds like somebody's
Sounds like somebody's collecting wotes again.
I dont think it will be miuch
I dont think it will be miuch longer before the British will put thier foot down, and rightfully so.
There is no excuse for this
There is no excuse for this type of ongoing theft, but it is almost understandable given that civil servants see the abuse of our country by politicians only concerned with self-enrichment, politicians who continue their plunder with apparent impunity.
It is not our way!
It is not our way!
It's the dangling of a carrot
It's the dangling of a carrot in front of a Mule. Free fuel is just too good an opportunity to pass up, by all concerned from the management, bosses & all the other participants in the scheme. A free gallon of petrol stolen from your employer is worth 2 gallons you would buy at the pump, it is just GOLDEN. The big SUV, the 2nd pick-up truck and ma's car..all running on free fuel. While we are at it , lets get a card for the kids car & possibly one of their friends too.
Mules don't like carrots.
Mules don't like carrots. Horses and donkeys do.
Why are the young people
Why are the young people called "thugs" by the Commissioner of Police, but the gas thieves get away with their theft.
Do not wonder why we have gangs.
Whoever has these cards needs
Whoever has these cards needs to start a gas station "Gasboy Petrol Station" and sell the gas for like $2 a gallon. Consider it government subsidized gas. Good for them for stealing from the Government. That's the Cayman way!
Anybody know where I can pick
Anybody know where I can pick me up one a dem gasboy cards?
Did you try the West Bay
Did you try the West Bay office?
In lieu of a salary
In lieu of a salary increment, the last of which I received 15 years ago, you damn right I taking the gas.
"...you damn right I taking
"...you damn right I taking the gas?"
I am surprised on so many levels that you actually have a job.
This is sooooo sad and the
This is sooooo sad and the ROOT cause of all our problems entitlement, mediocrity and no work ethic!
You are an uncivil liar,
You are an uncivil liar, uncivil servant. You have received several salary "uplifts" and COLAs (cost of living allowances) in the last 15 years. Stop your damned nonsense, we are tired of you moaning civil servants with your platinum plated pension and medical benefits. And on top of that you guys are never fired no matter how useless you are.
"Platinum plated pension and
"Platinum plated pension and medical benefits"? Surely you jest. As a result of gross incompetence we will likely never see a penny of that pension money. Laughed at when one shows their CINICO card in the real world. That's your idea of a platinum package? Give it a go hotshot, can't wait to hear how it works out for you.
Well get a real job then -
Well get a real job then - but understand that you may have to prove that your work input really justifies your salary.
No, I do not jest. You
No, I do not jest. You obviously are totally ignorant about the true worth of your medical cover under CINICO and the PSML ("give it a go hotshot" and see what you learn) and are only obsessed by the fact that you have to use the Hospital and can't flash your CINICO card like a credit card.........or a Gasboy card.
Post new comment