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Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille says more than 500 jobs to be created from infrastructure projects. Image via: flickr

Patricia de Lille unhappy with senior public servants ‘double dipping’

Patricia de Lille says at least eight senior officials in the Department of Public Works failed to disclose they were engaged in other work.

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Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille says more than 500 jobs to be created from infrastructure projects. Image via: flickr

Patricia de Lille, the Minister for the Department Public Works (DPW) says she is not happy with a handful of senior managers in her department who failed to disclose that they were engaged in other remunerative work outside their employment in the department.

The Public Service Commission Report Findings on financial disclosures by senior management in DPWI indicate that the PSC received 177 financial disclosure forms for the period between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

PATRICIA DE LILLE TO KEEP WATCHFUL EYE ON SENIOR MANAGERS

A total of 22 senior members have interests in companies and in most of these cases, the PSC found that these interests pose a potential conflict of interest.

 “I am pleased with the portion of the findings that the majority of senior management members were fully compliant with their financial declarations there is cause for concern with some of the declarations by the rest of the SMS members. I will be working closely with the Acting DG of the department to ensure that the department follows the necessary procedures and actions processes to clarify conflicts of interest and address any serious conflicts or concerns,” said De Lille.

She said eight staff members were engaged in other remunerative work outside their employment in the department and none of them provided proof of approval to engage in other remunerative work.

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CONFLICT OF INTEREST ISSUES RAISED

“The PSC also found that 16 SMS members did not disclose all their registered interests (non-disclosure of directorships, vehicles or immovable property). This is in contravention of Regulation 19 of the PSR, 2016,” said the Minister.

Patricia de Lille said where potential conflicts of interest have been flagged, the department will closely monitor the activities of company interests that have been declared and those which were not declared to ensure that conflicts of interest do not materialise with officials doing business with government.