Concerns raised that AWEMA bosses to receive pay-offs

Plaid AM asks for guarantee that no public money will be spent

A Plaid Cymru AM has asked for assurances from the Labour Welsh Government that no public funds will be used to pay-off AWEMA officials implicated in the charity's financial mismanagement.

Bethan Jenkins AM said that sources connected to AWEMA had raised concerns that officials implicated in recent reports into financial mismanagement at the charity would receive 'redundancy payments' as the organisation's affairs are brought to an end.

Ms Jenkins said that given the extent of maladministration highlighted in last week's official report, and previous reports, it would be scandalous for those responsible to receive any further public money.

Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins represents South Wales West where AWEMA is based. She said:

"People connected with AWEMA have voiced concerns that those at the centre of allegations of financial mismanagement at AWEMA will now receive pay-offs as the charity is wound up.

"It cannot be right that any public funds should be given out in this way. Those responsible for the financial mismanagement at AWEMA should not be allowed to receive any more taxpayers’ cash.

"I've asked the Welsh Finance Minister for a cast-iron guarantee that no public money will be given to those people implicated in the affair, unless they are first cleared of any wrongdoing."