Theft offences at CUP should give pause to new council

Recent news about a manager at Summerside’s Credit Union Place (CUP) pleading guilty to fraud and theft charges, following incidents that have occurred over the past three years, raises serious questions about management procedures and policies, both at the CUP and with the city’s own audit department.

Instances like this one may lead people to question why the City of Summerside has always refused a forensic audit, even a ‘look-see’ audit?

This manager, as well as all mangers, would have had a boss to answer to. We are talking about a multi-million-dollar complex with fraud and theft offences going undetected for over three years. If anyone ran a private business in this manner they would be bankrupt. This is taxpayers’ money folks, you hire and pay these employees. It’s council’s responsibility to ensure someone is held accountable for this lapse of management duties.

The city touts transparency, openness and accountability, how could the CUP organization side-step audits when city credit cards were used in these offences? This is what taxpayers want to know. This is not the first time financial issues have been questioned over the years. We have new councillors elected, surely this incident of mismanaged taxpayers’ money will be a focus of attention, if required accountability, must be adhered to.

David Griffin Summerside