But that's not the only fire that Williams has had to put out. According to an internal audit, at least $80,000 was misappropriated from the Spanish Lookout branch of the Transport Department. According to the CEO, while a criminal investigation is ongoing, they are also conducting an internal investigation. But while they don't know the full amount of the misappropriated funds within the ministry, it could be a lot more than just that 80 grand.
Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport
"When I took over the ministry, I was briefed by our internal auditor that there was an audit done of the Spanish Lookout Department of Transport office and that audit revealed that a large sum of money was pilfered, perhaps by the person who was in charge of the cashier at that office. I had gone through the audit report as a copy was provided to me and from reading the audit report I saw a number of discrepancies and issues that I believe ought to have been addressed much earlier than when I came. Nonetheless, when I came, the person concerned was on suspension, apparently she was placed on suspension for 3 months but while she was suspended, nothing was done in order to take disciplinary action against her for the allegations that surrounded her. I know that yes, there was a report made to 
the police in respect of the information and police are investigating, I have seen a memorandum from the DPP office where the DDP has given the police further instructions to do additional investigation. The police are carrying out those instructions as we speak. My thing is that while we do have the criminal investigation ongoing, we should also look at the internal aspect to run parallel with the criminal investigation so what I have done is that I have since written the officer who was the cashier, her supervisor along with another officer who worked at the office, asking all of them to show cause, why, in light of the allegation, disciplinary action should not be taken against them. They'll be given 14 days to reply to that letter that I have sent them. Following that I will receive their replies and based on what is written back to me, then we decide whether there's going to be disciplinary action taken against them so the ball is now in motion, it's a matter for them now to explicate themselves as the case may be. If not, then the matter goes to the Public Service Commission."
Courtney Menzies:
"Do you believe the figure is up to, because I know $80,000 was reported but we were told it could be up to $150,000."
Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport
"I have written to the auditor general asking for there to be a complete audit of the traffic department and so once that audit is done then we will be able to see if there was things happening elsewhere."
Williams says that the FIU is part of the police's investigation and he is hoping for an outcome similar to the case of Ivan Ayuso, where he was ordered to forfeit assets after he was found guilty of embezzlement.
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