-----Original Message----- From: Jeng, Beran Sent: Monday, October 30, 2000 9:31 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: FWD:Where Is the Auditor General? The Independent (Banjul) EDITORIAL October 27, 2000 Alhagie Mbye Banjul Reports reaching The Independent during the past few weeks have claimed that the Auditor General Fatoumatta Jallow-Gaye, who reportedly traveled to the United Kingdom, is yet to return home, prompting rumours that she has absconded. Sources at the Auditor General's office explained that Fatoumatta Jallow-Gaye who was expected back earlier was given a deadline by the government since October 5, 2000 to return. Unconfirmed reports monitored on Tuesday suggested that the Auditor General has sought political asylum in the UK following information alleging that her department was in crisis. An official at the Auditor General Office confirmed to The Independent that the Auditor General is currently not in The Gambia but he assured that Mrs. Gaye would be back 'in due course'. 'Why are people still concerned about her whereabouts?' he inquired. Sources at the Auditor General's Department claimed that a problem had erupted between her and the government after she reportedly wrote to the Secretary General and head of the civil service, demanding that a secretary whom she accused of involvement in the 'stealing of government fuel coupons' should be sacked. The sources noted that the secretary in question had denied any involvement in the alleged theft of fuel coupons in the department. That was said to be the fourth reported case. 'Fuel coupon problems have been a long-standing issue in the department', added the insiders who also disclosed that the secretary who was accused of the coupon theft had handed over Mrs. Gaye's letter to the Public Service Commission, who reportedly instructed her to continue work. They noted that the secretary also made a written counter claim, accusing the Auditor General of abusing her office 'by inviting friends and other relatives to make free international calls in her office, and misused fuel coupons among other things'. Reports also claimed that the NIA had interrogated some members of the Auditor General's family whilst she was still away but it is not clear whether the questioning is in connection with her alleged 'disappearance'. Inside sources also claimed that Mrs. Gaye was also accused of leaking to the opposition the Auditor General's report before it was submitted to the National Assembly for which the government felt 'offended'. Since 1994, the Auditor General's office has been confronted with 'petty problems' and that about 12 of its employees have left the department in disillusioned sources intimated. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------