EX-LTA CHIEF HITS BACK AT BOARD ALLEGATIONS
It was claimed Mr Piantedosi failed to action issues found on 22 separate internal audit reports
The former chief executive officer of the Land Transport Authority Carmine Piantedosi has rejected allegations of incompetence levelled against him which led to his resignation. Instead he says the LTA board made several ‘ questionable’ decisions during his tenure.
The ex-chief said the LTA board used ‘unsubstantiated excuses’ to ‘falsely question’ his performance.
“Firstly, I’d like to say that the chair (Vijay Maharaj) has now changed his initial statement that I had resigned for personal and family reasons which in my statement I identified as being untrue,” Mr Piantedosi said in an e-mail.
It was claimed Mr Piantedosi failed to action issues found on 22 separate internal audit reports.
He said: “The Board alleged that ‘I was soft’ and that I had not acted on a number of audit reports: 22 audit reports is the first time I have heard that number.
“All audit reports, whether special investigations or routine audits, were assessed and reviewed by me with the manager audit.” Mr Maharaj said the authority’s position on Mr Piantedosi’s resignation had not changed since the press conference.
“Mr Piantedosi had his opportunity to take this matter up when he was here and now that he is gone he can write whatever emails that he wants.
“But we do not wish to engage in any communication with him either directly or through media.” Mr Piantedosi said matters in the audits that required the attention of the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC) were duly reported.
He joined LTA in April this year; only to resign just over six months later for what Mr Maharaj said were weaknesses in his performance. “I have also been informed that there have been statements that have attacked my character which demonstrates the lack of professionalism and transparency of the LTA Board,” Mr Piantedosi added. “They (the board) stated that I had not followed Board directives, yet provided no evidence of what directives I had not followed.”
The ex-chief said he had kept the board informed of the work he was doing ‘at all times’ and all matters considered sensitive to the LTA or to Government were reported. “During my short engagement, I had developed new policies and procedures to ensure robust strategies for dealing with organisational risk, corruption, bribery and conflict of interest,” he said.
“It is now questionable as to why these positive outcomes supported by stakeholders, customers, industry, and which align with the policies established by Government, were being undermined by the Board.”
However, the board refused to endorse a drafted new policy on declaring conflicts of interests and gifts, he said.
“Why the Board did not wish to declare their interests is also questionable,” he added.
“Many organisations I have worked for have had no issue with declarations of Conflict of Interest, especially statutory bodies and regulatory agencies such as the LTA.” An official statement from FICAC read: “The LTA has over the years reported matters of corruption allegations to FICAC and we have charged a total of 20 persons since last year; inclusive of LTA Officers, driving school instructors, and members of the public who used illegal means of obtaining the services of the LTA.”
Mr Piantedosi had his opportunity to take this matter up when he was here and now that he is gone he can write whatever emails that he wants Vijay Maharaj Land Transport Authority chairmanperson