00:00In a 12-page termination letter, Permanent Secretary Ian Ramderhan informed Philip that his employment was terminated with immediate effect
00:08following audits and investigations by the Ministry's Internal Audit Department and the Central Audit Division of the Ministry of Finance.
00:15The Ministry accused Hayden Philip of gross misconduct, malfeasance, misbehavior in public office, and fundamental breaches of contract.
00:23Among the most serious allegations are claims that Philip received personal benefits from contractors who awarded government projects through PURE.
00:33The Ministry alleged he maintained undisclosed links to several private companies and pointed to a condominium valued at approximately $3
00:40.1 million that investigators claimed was transferred to him by directors of a contracting company that secured state contracts.
00:48Investigators also found what they described as significant weaknesses within PURE, including the absence of written operating procedures, poor project
00:57reporting, inadequate financial risk assessments, and a lack of safeguards against conflicts of interest, fraud, and unethical conduct.
01:06A major focus of the investigation was the Sir Solomon Ho Choi Highway widening project, where auditors cited delays in
01:13decision-making, poor coordination, and failures to properly manage contractual disputes, including extension of time claims now reported valued at
01:23about $38 million.
01:24The Ministry also raised concerns about procurement practices involving PURE and NIPDEC, alleged mid-evaluation committees operated with little independent
01:34oversight, and warning that missing procurement records undermined confidence in the process.
01:40Philip declined to comment on the allegations when contacted by TV6 last week, stating,
01:45I have no comment whatsoever.
01:48The Ministry has ordered Philip to surrender all government property and barred him from accessing ministry offices, databases, financial systems,
01:56and official communication channels.
01:59Mark Bassant, TV6 News.
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