Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (June 01/05) - The good news surrounding the 2005 fishing derby in Rankin Inlet was that hamlet council stepped in at the last minute to save the event.

In fact, not only did council save the derby, it did an incredible job of raising prizes in the last few days leading up to the event.

Council was forced to step in after a special meeting with representatives of the former fishing derby committee this past month.

The committee only had $4,100 in its bank account, which was turned over to council when it decided to run the derby.

Coun. Justin Merritt said he was happy to see council take over the derby.

He said Mayor Lorne Kusugak and Deputy Mayor Hamish Tatty are to be commended for the work they did in raising prize donations in such a short period of time.

"Now that the derby's behind us, the next step is to get a report on the bingo the former committee held this past September so we can see where the money went that was raised," said Merritt.

"In my opinion, if satisfactory documentation can't be produced, the matter should be turned over to the RCMP to investigate."

Merritt said the only way people are going to become more accountable with how bingo money is being spent is if the authorities crack down on offenders.

He said council suspended the licence of the old radio committee under similar circumstances a few years ago and turned the file over to the RCMP.

"As far as I know, nothing was done on it and that sends out the wrong message.

"Really, all council can do is turn the file over to the proper authorities and hope something gets done."

Coun. Ron Roach said he fully supports Merritt's directive.

He said council has to be diligent in getting accurate financial information from any group granted a bingo licence.

"I would say 90 per cent of the organizations that get a licence send in a statement of account before their next bingo game," said Roach.

"And that includes a copy of their bank statement to show the money raised is in their account."

Roach said the reporting process has improved a great deal since Jackson Lindell took over as the hamlet's recreation director.

He said the hamlet is starting to levy penalties against groups that don't respond in a timely fashion, and audits an average of three licence holders per year.

"Nine times out of 10 we know which organizations we're going to audit before we sit down to conduct the official selection, because people will have all ready told us there should be more money in their bank account than what their statement is showing.

"It's imperative for groups to run on the up and up, and for the money raised by the committees to be spent on what it was intended for."

Coun. David Ningeongan was one of the more outspoken councillors during the special meeting to discuss the fishing derby situation.

He said council can't afford to look the other way if any money raised by the former derby committee can't be accounted for. "With all the bingos happening in the community, we have to ensure money being raised from the public is used properly and not being abused," says Ningeongan.

"Council has to take control over where the funds are going.

"I have no proof to say for sure that funds raised by the former fishing derby committee are missing but, from what was indicated during the council meeting, it certainly sounds like that was happening.

"If council feels there are funds unaccounted for, then further action has to be taken."

Gone on too long

Ningeongan said it's time for funds not being properly accounted for to come to an end once and for all.

He said there was a similar situation many years ago with search and rescue, and other problems during the past few years with both a radio and a sports committee.

"It has to stop, period. People have to be confident the money being raised by bingo is going toward the betterment of the community as a whole, and not being abused by anyone."