Providenciales, 06 Jul 2015 – The case against suspended Permanent Secretary Athenee Harvey has been dropped; the Director of Public Prosecutions believes that the evidence and new standards together justify his decision that there is no case against Harvey.
It is the second vindication in this matter where there was allegedly a move by Harvey, the Permanent Secretary of Finance to use her authority or position to try to get away with not paying customs duties. The DPP, John Masters says he is not convinced, explaining in a media statement issued late today, a new Full Code Test, which his soon to be instituted helped him to arrive at his decision that Athenee Harvey did not violate the Code of Conduct, despite the situation at the Grand Turk Cruise Center last August getting heated from time to time. The Integrity Commission was compelled to bring the case against Harvey when there were complaints from the Customs Department; officers who felt abused by Harvey.
The DPP proposes to reach out to the Comptroller of Customs with a view to helping the department work on its protocol and procedures for greater clarity to its officers. It was also revealed in that statement today that that Harvey was aware of others having off loaded luggage at the cruise center and was a cruise passenger, actually on vacation and not functioning in her capacity as the PS Finance. These factors all admittedly influenced the decision of the DPP to discontinue the case which was due to run this week at the Supreme Court.
Again, Athenee Harvey has seen the case of corruption against her tossed out; what remains to be seen is what the future looks like now within Government for the woman who once headed the Ministry of Finance.
