Haiti - FLASH : The DDE of Artibonite accused of embezzlement
Didier Pierre, President of the Platform of Artibonite Teachers' Unions (PSEA) denounced this week at a press conference situations of "malfeasance", "corruption" and "embezzlement" at the Departmental Directorate of Artibonite Education (DDEA) which have lasted for several years.
He explained that the embezzled money comes from source tax deductions from the payroll tax of the staff of the old nationalized community schools in 2004, which are paid after deductions by the DDEA unlike other staff who are paid by direct transfer from the State after deduction of withholding tax.
In fact, according to Didier Pierre, the DDEA has never returned the tax deductions to the DGI, which would represent an annual diversion of more than 7 million gourdes per year, affirms the President of the PSEA.
He indicated that to renew their contract, the professors asked for their final tax declaration and had the unpleasant surprise of having to pay all of their tax arrears when the deductions had already been made and that they thought in order with the tax adminsitration...
Faced with this situation, the PSEA intends to request an investigation from the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation (CSC/CA) and the Unit for Combating Corruption (ULCC), indicating that if the responsible authorities do not resolve this situation by March 1, disruptions and work stoppages are to be expected in Artibonite schools...
