The conviction of Wayne Clarke of Nevis Street in Basseterre, St. Kitts, on Wednesday, 20th November, 2013, relates to the larceny of some EC$32,354.73 from the tourism body, where he worked.
The incident is said to have occurred during the month of November, 2011 at the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. Police have indicated that Clarke worked at the Authority as a Senior Accountant/Finance Manager, and has been in this line of work for some 24 years, though not employed at the tourism office for that period.
Clarke was known as a leading promoter of various concerts featuring artistes from St. Kitts and Nevis and as the owner of Pandas Entertainment, produced the highly successful “Stitch in Time” concert in 2011 featuring top female artistes from across the Caribbean, including Alaine, Tanya Stephens, Ce’Cile, Queen Ifrica and Lady Saw, Queen Anastasia, Rolhensha and Shakki.
That concert was well supported by various corporate partners who came on board for the project, donating thousands of dollars to an event that Clarke had indicated was designed to empower the women of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Director of Public Prosecution, Travers Sinanan during his closing speech told the jury that Mr. Clarke abused his powers as acting CEO to steal the money and attempted to cover his tracks, and he had no intentions to repay the money.
The DPP stated that it was Clarke’s intention to steal the money and not to return it. This was not the first time however that the Tourism Authority has had such problems with its chief financial officers as there are reports of similar activities in the past.
Clarke has been remanded to prison while he awaits sentencing, but authorities have already highlighted that the maximum penalty for this offence is seven (7) years imprisonment.
In other, but unrelated, crime matters, police have also reported that a man was found unconscious with a bleeding wound.
It was on Wednesday 20th November, 2013 about 7:30 pm when police officers responded to a report that a man was found lying on ground at Carty’s Alley, in East Basseterre, (Newtown), unconscious with blood coming from his head.
Initial investigation revealed that the injured person was Eustace Audain of Fort Lands. He was transported to the hospital by the ambulance.
One person is currently in police custody assisting with the investigation.