Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, has promised a full investigation into how computers at St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ New York consulate were “completely wiped” after the last general election and difficulties in taking control of a children’s trust fund linked to the country’s High Commission in London.
Bramble first spoke about the situation in Parliament on Tuesday and elaborated on Hot97 FM on Wednesday.
The minister told lawmakers that Roland “Patel” Matthews, who was appointed consul general in March, following the New Democratic Party’s victory in November, reported to him shortly after arriving in post, that the entire computer system at the consulate had been wiped.
“Completely wiped. No information on anything that happened in the consulate in New York was left there,” Bramble told Parliament.
Speaking on Hot 97 on Wednesday, the foreign minister promised public accountability.
“I will do whatever I have to do to let people know what’s going on and to show people that I am accountable as their servant, as a minister.”
Regarding Matthews’ report, Bramble said:
“He told me that nothing is on the computer when he got there. So we are investigating. We are exploring all of our options.”
The minister said only the consul general was supposed to use that computer:
“As far as I’m aware… the Consul General only [would have access]. I have access to my computer as a minister… I am the only one who have access to it with my password and so on.”
Matthews took office at the beginning of March, succeeding Rondy “Luta” McIntosh, whom the former Unity Labour Party administration appointed effective August 2022.
Bramble said he had not spoken to McIntosh as yet, adding, “Trust me, he will be spoken to. Maybe not by me, but he will be spoken to.”
The minister said he could not comment on whether charges would be laid, telling the radio show,
“I can’t answer that. I am not a legal person… We will do what we have to do to make sure that the investigation is thorough and complete. I can’t speculate on who is going to be involved.”
He also said authorities were working to ensure the probe is handled by a competent body, including IT specialists.
“Well, all of that is being worked on. We are still in the process of getting all of that in place. … but, of course, you need. We have to do that.
“We are still in the process of getting all of that in place… Of course, we have to do that.”
Bramble also elaborated on a situation at the High Commission in London, where the new High Commissioner has not been able to access a trust fund intended to assist children.
“There is a trust fund which is basically sustained by European benefactors… designed to assist children.”
Bramble said the fund is managed through the High Commission and has two signatories, one of whom was the previous High Commissioner.
“It’s the High Commissioner who manages it… and there is another signatory to the account… somebody who was, under the former administration, an adviser to the government.”
Bramble questioned why the adviser’s name was ever placed on the account.
“I don’t even understand why their name is on it in the first place, but anyway, that is what we inherited.”
He said efforts to update the signatories and bring the fund fully under the control of the new High Commissioner, Brereton Horne, are being resisted.
“We are getting difficulties from the former High Commissioner to cooperate in getting the signatures changed and all of that… That is where the problem is.”
He suggested the behaviour of the outgoing signatories gives the impression that:
“It’s their money, then,” adding, “These things must stop.”
Bramble said he was highlighting the situations as part of a broader promise of accountability.
“The people voted me to work for them… As long as I am there, I am going to do what I have to do to make sure that I serve the people,” he said.
“I would not always get it right … there’s always room for improvement,” he further stated, adding that he welcomes objective criticism, insisting that the Godwin Friday government will “make sure that we uncover and unearth what we need to, because if you don’t do that, you can’t move forward in any meaningful way.”
