GRANT FRAUD

CCNTV6

A number of residents in Tobago have lost thousands of dollars from a worker operating out of the Division of Settlements,  who has been collecting thousands of dollars from them with the promise of their grant applications being successful. More in this Elizabeth Williams report.

Transcript

00:00One applicant who lost thousands of dollars told the TV6 News in May in 2025, a friend of hers

00:08provided a link to be able to acquire a grant at the Division of Settlements. It would cost her

00:14$3,000 to expedite the process. The grant was worth $50,000. A day later, a Mr. John, as we

00:22would call him, said he works at the THA Settlements Division, contacted her via phone

00:28insisting that she would get through and also encouraged her to get other people.

00:34WhatsApp messages were supplied to TV6 News of the Conversations. She said, quote,

00:39he told me to drop the money at a known mobile business in Scarborough. He communicated with me

00:46to follow up on the processing of the grant via text. He asked for additional funds to process

00:52the checks and other monies. However, he failed to call in August when he said,

00:58I was to come in to sign, end quote. Other persons who sought a similar deal at the Division

01:04of Settlements also reported a similar story, except monies were dropped off at a popular

01:10vendor in Tobago. She added, to date, no contact was made with me, and his contact numbers are

01:18going to voicemail since he collected the monies. We visited the Division to drop off documents

01:23for him. Another time, we were told he was not in for the day. TV6 News brought the matter

01:30to the attention of Chief Secretary Farley Augustine. I would love to see some of that evidence

01:36that will be fraud, fraudulent. No tubergonian should have to pay for a grant. A grant, as

01:46it suggests, is free. It's not repayable. It's meant for those who are definitely and desperately

01:52in need. Mr. Augustine said, if the situation is true, it would be tantamount to misbehavior

01:59in public office. It's not meant for those who already have. And if there is or there are

02:06tobogonians paying workers to get a grant, that is misbehavior in public office. It's a

02:13misuse of public funds. It is fraudulent. And that will warrant deeper investigation by the

02:19police. Augustine said an investigation is needed. And that is something I would be very

02:24concerned about and I would love to see the evidence of. If it involves a contracted employee

02:30for which the Executive Council has some control, certainly instructions will be given for immediate

02:37suspension pending an investigation. If it's on the public service side, then the Chief Administrator

02:43will have to trigger necessary action based on the evidence. Elizabeth Williams, TV

02:496 News.

02:506 News

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