Public Accounts Committee moves to trigger NLA probe

by Nisha Paul

• PAC intends to engage Director of Audit to conduct probe and submit report to Parliament
• Former minister La Crette raised questions about oversight and alleged corruption within NLA
• NLA remains a key revenue-generating entity, funding a range of national development initiatives

The push for answers inside one of Grenada’s most sensitive statutory bodies is gaining momentum.

Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is preparing to request an investigation into the operations of the National Lotteries Authority (NLA), as concerns over governance and accountability continue to grow.

Chair of the committee and Opposition Leader Emmalin Pierre told Tuesday’s sitting of the Lower House that the committee intends to engage the Director of Audit to conduct the probe and submit a report to Parliament.

The move signals a shift from political concern to formal oversight, with the PAC already reviewing public records and consulting senior public officers as it sets its priorities.

As a standing committee of Parliament, the PAC’s mandate allows it to request investigations into the use of public funds and the operations of state entities, with findings later tabled for parliamentary scrutiny. But the issue has been building for months.

Concerns intensified following statements by former minister Johnathan La Crette, who had responsibility for the NLA and raised questions about oversight and alleged corruption within the organisation.

Pierre pointed directly to those developments. “In the context that sometime ago, we had a Minister of Government indicating that there was a high level of corruption within that organisation… specifying that he would have written to the head of the board of the National Lotteries Authority, and to the extent of dismissal.”

La Crette was removed from Cabinet in July 2024 by Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, who said he had “lost trust and confidence” in the minister. Now, with the PAC stepping in, the matter is poised to move beyond allegation.

The NLA remains a key revenue-generating entity, funding a range of national development initiatives. Any confirmed breakdown in oversight or financial management would carry wider implications for public trust and accountability.

If the investigation proceeds, it could bring longstanding concerns into sharper focus and test the strength of oversight within Grenada’s system of public accountability.