$600k Spent to Furnish Brussels Embassy

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – An audit at The Bahamas embassy in Brussels, Belgium reveals hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on furniture and the overpayment of a luxury car for the then-ambassador.

The audit, which covers the period November 1, 2019 to July 7, 2022, finds more than $600,000 was spent to purchase furniture for the official residence in Belgium.

According to the report, the High Commission in London assisted the mission with a 50 percent initial deposit of more than $300,000.

It continues, noting a second payment of just over $171,000 was made, totaling $389,000.

Additionally, payments were made from the Mission Belgium account in the amount of $94,700 and $13,000, totaling $108,138.16.

The Auditor General recommends the Ministry of Foreign Affairs establish standards/policies for the purchasing of furniture for all residences and embassies, consulates, and missions.

It continues, ambassadors should not solely be responsible for these functions but through consultation with the ministry.

The revelation comes four months after Labor and Immigration Minister Keith Bell revealed, $500,000 was spent to furnish the ambassador’s residence in Belgium. That’s more than $500,000 less than Bell revealed back in June.

At the time, Bell called it wasteful spending by the Minnis administration.

Then there was the overpayment on the lease for an official vehicle. The Auditor General also observed payments were made to the company Mercedes-Benz financial services for the lease of a luxury vehicle.

It reads, the company was overpaid $6,130.78.

Two payments were made by direct deposit in addition to a manual payment all in the month of August, 2020.

The report does not note the total cost of the car.