Former Education Minister Wants Heads To Roll In E-books scandal

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Dr Quinn

Former Education Minister Dr Jacqui Quinn today questioned why no one has yet been held accountable for the so called E-books scandal.

Dr. Quinn was writing in a public post on her personal Facebook page, days after it was revealed that “several procedural breaches” occurred during the procurement of over 6000 e-book devices in 2017.

“Which other country in the whole wide world, (other than a banana republic) would have a scandal of such epic proportions and heads don’t roll,” the former MP wrote.

“And taxpayers paying education levy,” she exclaimed.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne warned of consequences for those involved and even added that Education Minister Michael Browne would have to bear some responsibility.

However, since his statement on the matter last Saturday, the prime minister has taken no action.

During its meeting today, the Cabinet said it met with the Indian firm but said its counteroffer to the US$ 250 per person licencing fee “do not comport with the policy guidelines set by the government.”

The firm was asked to lower the rate during a previous Cabinet meeting.

It is estimated that the scandal could cost the state US$ 5 million annually.

Browne said the Cabinet and the Tenders Board were left in the dark about the user fee.

“Nobody knew it was never disclosed, the cabinet had no knowledge, to my knowledge the tenders board had no knowledge so there were some procedural breaches,” Browne disclosed.

According to him “the process that we have in place is that all contracts in excess of $100,000 must go to the tenders board for approval or a waiver of tender.”

Prior to going to the Tenders Board Browne said Cabinet approval must be obtained.

The contract was signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of education and the Director in the ministry, according to Browne.

It is the latest major scandal to rock the Gaston Browne administration since Asot Michael was relieved of ministerial duties following the PV Energy Bribery Scandal.

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14 COMMENTS

  1. Prime Minister Gaston Browne warned of consequences for those involved and even added that Education Minister Michael Browne would have to bear some responsibility. They should put lol at the end of this gaston not doing grass the minister got his secrets and over two hundred thousand of it lol…..parables is good

  2. Another alp personal enrichment scheme gone awry
    How did the PM know there was no malfeasance in a matter of days when this same incompetent bunch take a whole year to produce a report

    ANR you must republish all the posts by the blogger who warned of this same ebook scandal on this site going back years, I know the PM saw them because he follow all the online blogs, he only a pretend he didn’t know now that the scheme not proving lucrative for his comrade and the party and he have to start paying the Indian man for some useless paper weights

    I notice since the scandal broke the whistleblower stop blowing , I wonder if it’s an insider

  3. These procedural breaches over the procurement of over 6000 e-book devices could never took place under Dr. Green’ s watch. He is still my choice of Director of Education.

  4. heads can not roll without evidence of wrong doing, fraud, or at-least gross negligence. If there was such I am in agreement but I can not say let me roll head without a proper and fair investigation of evidence and affidavit before I bring charges or even terminate from duty (terminate from duty has a lower standard) but they all require evidence, as I say, clear and preponderance reasonable evidence of wrong doing.

    • Ok, then join the voices that want to know what exactly happened after which the chips will fall where they may. Not exactly ABLP style so they will have to be ‘encouraged’ not to sweep this under the carpet.

  5. Like the Wadadli Power Plant “scandal” this too will die a quiet death. The people will keep their pitchforks locked away and life will go on.

    P.S. – was Mrs. Leandro required to pay back MBS for her cancer treatment? Or was if a gift/grant/donation from taxpayers monies? Can the “average person” be given the same amount from MBS for cancer treatment as well too?

  6. Tell us first how you were able to get soo much money from MBS and ordinary people with ailment cant get squat!

    • Sad but true. I guess she is special. Look how many people have died from cancer and other ailments while she still has her life and family. She was an MP at the time, so I am sure that she could have afforded health insurance instead of using the monies of the same regular people who not as PRIVILEGED as her. What was the total amount of people’s money spent on Jackie’s medical bills??

    • Jusr like how puss chest michael Browne can be flown out to 4 hospitals to get 600 p ibuprofen for just having puss on his chest …..well she can get help also ….this is the problem in antigua it is do for do …..so one party theif so the party u back u allow them to thief and say nothing and in the mean time it benefits u nothing ,you the one still end up at their gate begging….wake up

      • @Dumb u. It was reported that MP Michael Browne had HEALTH INSURANCE which he used to cover the cost of his medical treatment. The people deserve to know if Mrs. Leandro paid back the money, if so, how much? Until someone close to you dies of cancer, then you will not understand how UNFAIR it was to use “pickyhead nergah” money to pay for her medical treatment.

        Do you think a school CROSSING GUARD, CUSTODIAN, or SCHOOLBUS DRIVER could get such a “gift” from Medical Benefits, if God forbid, they receive a cancer diagnosis or some other life-threatening ailment?

  7. THIS FORMER MINISTER NEEDS TO HUSH.

    THE PENSION SHE IS GETTING FROM THE PUBLIC’S PURSE WAS NOT EARNED. AFTER SHE LOST POWER THE LADY WAS GIVEN SENATORSHIP FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE TO QUALIFY FOR THE PENSION. ISN’T THAT DISHONESTY?

    THIS RASTAMAN HAS NO AFFILIATION….. SHE NEEDS SHHHH WHEN PEOPLE TALKING..

    • Your are dumb dumb …..and you are no rasta because they would not be that dumb….will track your ip address to see who u really are

      • I AM NOT HIDING
        THE TRUTH WILL BE SPOKEN
        NO FEAR NO FAVOR NO AFFILIATION

        FOLLOW THIS RASTAMAN BECAUSE AS WE MOVE INTO THE EQUINOX OF AQUARIUS PEOPLE ARE AWAKENING ONCE THE TRUTH IS PUT FORWARD IT WILL BE AFFECTED.

        THE ONLY REASON THE FIRST ELECTED FEMALE MINISTER BECAME A SENATOR IS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT FOR PENSION.

        HONESTY, TRUTH, INTEGRITY, ARE NOT A SYNONYM FIR DECEPTION

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