EZ Shipping received more than $700K pay when barges not used

An audit report on the COVID-19 border security contracts for marine platforms between the Andrew Fahie-led government and EZ Shipping showed that the company received payments even when it provided no services.

According to the report issued by Auditor General Sonia Webster, the payments made to EZ Shipping covered two months when the barges were not used.

The audit concluded that incorrect information was provided to the National Security Council (NSC) and Cabinet to facilitate approval of the contracts and support unearned payments of more than $700,000.

EZ shipping was paid more than $2 million for use of three of its barges — Midnight Stone, Midnight Czar, and Midnight Chief — as radar platforms between September 2020 and January 2021, but records show that use of the radar platforms ceased in November 2020.

Use of Midnight Chief ceased on November 15, 2020, Midnight Czar on November 21, 2020, and Midnight Stone on November 25, 2020.