WHILE Tobago awaits a response from Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine on a leaked voice recording said to be of two THA officials discussing the use of public funds to hire people to carry out a political propaganda campaign, officers of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau (ACIB) and Fraud Squad are probing the matter.
Despite the uproar since the recording's release in May, Augustine has remained silent on the matter.
The acting Deputy Commissioner of Police for intelligence and investigations, Curt Simon confirmed to Newsday on Tuesday that police are looking into the recording.
He said, "My officers are mulling over it with advice from the legal department and other investigative areas within the TTPS.
"We have to look to see if there are offences and if there are in fact offences if they were committed by anyone. And, if the persons who we suspect committed the offences, if they did or were capable of committing the offences."
He said these factors must be considered before launching an official inquiry.
Head of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB), Snr Supt Arlet Groome preferred not to say whether or not an investigation is underway when Newsday contacted him for a comment.
Newsday understands an officer from the Fraud Squad, working closely with ACIB, received an assignment last week for an "urgent matter" in Tobago.
"Not much else is known about the nature of the assignment, as the amount of information on the matter has been limited to only the investigating officer but it is safe to say that an investigation into the recording is underway," the Fraud Squad source said.
Commenting on the issues on May 13, the Prime Minister said he would not intervene in THA operations unless there was a breach of the law.
This came weeks after the one-minute-fifteen-second voice recording of a man and a woman allegedly discussing a strategy that involves employing people under the THA and having them promote propaganda on social media.
The male voice on the recoding said the strategy "will help in the ways Tobagonians is (sic) responding to the moves in Trinidad; that can help in shaping the narrative."
Although Dr Rowley said he had no intention of commenting on Tobago’s business, he said, "If in Tobago there are officials who are prepared to break the law, they will face the law."
The Integrity Commission acknowledged receipt of questions on the issue from Newsday, sent via email on Tuesday, but did not say if it has launched an investigation. The commission investigates allegations of misconduct by people in public life.
Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary of Health, Wellness and Social Protection Dr Faith BYisrael questioned on the voice note Tuesday said the executive council had decided it would allow the chief secretary to comment on that.
“He did indicate some time ago that he will make a comment, and that will come soon. We are simply going to allow that to happen," she told reporters after a grant distribution ceremony at the divisio
