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On May 13th - 16 days ago - we hand delivered these Freedom Of Information requests to the Financial Secretary and the Prime Minister. The law says they have to respond in 14 days; they responded yesterday at 5:30 pm - on the 15th day, asking for an extension. They say they are compiling the requested materials and have been delayed by the budget, and asked for an extension to June 5th.

They need the time because they need to find answers for a number of transactions from the Ministry that have been flagged as questionable. Flagged by accountants in a review of suspect activities at the Toledo Teachers Credit Union.

They found that at least 15 transactions from the Government Treasury into the Bella Vista Branch between February 2022 and July 2024 lacked proper documentation. The funds amounted to almost 300 thousand dollars paid to two companies owned by a man known to be a member of Osmond Martinez's Toledo East Committee. The last payment was made one week after he was elected as area rep in a bye election.

The investigation calls it "a mysterious case….because the funds deposited in the accounts were very significant and not supported by the documentation in the file."

The account was flagged ….for lack of documentation for source of funds, mainly the building contract." Martinez signed at least one of those contracts and he told us everything was above board which he says the evidence will prove.

Still, the report raises worrying questions especially because these contracts were for public works paid for with public funds - but the lack of documentation, and in some cases, we are told, the lack of evidence of the works on the ground, have raised a red flag for regulators.

We'll follow up on June 5th when the Ministry of Finance has promised to provide full disclosure.

For his part, Area Rep Osmond Martinez told us that he has provided explanations for all disbursements, but says he is being scapegoated by a credit union management looking for a distraction because of other infractions.