Sources at the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport have revealed that Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael has been benefitting from her full salary while on administrative leave for over one year now.
Guyana Standard understands that in April 2019, the Public Service Commission took a decision to send Carmichael on administrative leave after she was accused of fraud. It is alleged that Carmichael forged the signature of another official so as to facilitate the payment of monies totaling in the millions.
However, while she was sent on leave to facilitate a police investigation, Carmichael was allowed to collect her $289,653 salary every month.
This publication understands that the matter was investigated. However, the details of that investigation are not readily available.
Reports in sections of the media since last year indicate that the PSC’s action was taken after a request was made by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Melissa Tucker.
The reports suggest that Tucker was the one who engaged in abuse of power and corruption and that she was getting into personal issues.
