Dimitri Samaras the first victim of TUZLA investigation
Almost a week into the TUZLA investigation inside UNDP, and Kemal Dervis, sent a clear message thru Peri Johnson to one of the main witnesses of the TUZLA process: -“Talk and you will loose even your pay-check”.
On January 10 2008 at 6:02 pm – immediately after a meeting at 21st floor of a small group who call themselves “CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM”, chaired by Chief of Staff Gettu and reporting directly to Kemal Dervis, Peri Johnson (Chief of Legal Office) sent this email to Dimitri Samaras:
------Original Email--------------
From: Peri Johnson
Sent: Thrusrday, January 10, 2008 6:02 pm
To: dimitri.samaras at undp.org
Cc:
Bcc:
Subject: Tuzla – confidential
Dimitri,
I received an email from Maria Milburn in OLA and she indicated that you copied Stephen F. on a response related to your interview. She asked that I inform you that the matter is confidential and that it is not appropriate to copy others in regard to the case and also that you keep everything related to is confidential. I quote, “ I would advise that Mr. Samaras be informed of the impropriety of his act, as described above, and be asked to cease any further communications of this nature. He should also be advised that anything relating to the Tuzla matter should be treated as strictly confidential”
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Best. Peri
Peri L. Johnson (Ms.)
Director
Legal Support Office
----------------------------------
But the dishonesty of the above email stands in the fact that, while Peri is threatening Dimitri for his “alleged copy of one email to his nr.2 of Staff Union Mr. Stephan Flaetgen, she abuses the confidentiality of the email itself and BCC it to at least 4 other people in 21st floor – Office of Administrator as well as she forwards it to OLA in UN Secretariat.
But what is so secret for TUZLA case that Dimitri Samaras should not dare to talk about? What is hidden behind the TUZLA files? Whose skeletons lie in the Tuzla-Closet?
Well it got to be damn important for someone to demote Dimitri Samaras, after 24 years of United Nations distinguished career, a renowned top class procurement expert, and decide that he (dimitri) has to leave his post of Procurement Senior Advisor and Member of ACP (Advisor Committee on Procurement) by end of next week.
Kemal Dervis, Akiko Yuge and the Director of Human Resources as well as James Provenzano, have all decided that it will be “better” for Dimitri Samaras and the organization if: -“he serves as a full time President of Staff Council”. Than Akiko added that : -“once Dimitri is out, we will have to clean up all Procurement Support Office and bring there some of our trusted staff”. (Quotes from minutes of the meeting)
But how can you force a staff member out of his job, to work as a full time Staff Representative – when there are no such rules to regulate and allow this in UNDP in first place. While such positions are properly set and regulated in United Nations Secretariat, where Staff Union members serve their terms as full paid Unionists, retaining also their old position where to return afterward, in UNDP such policy doesn’t exist.
Kemal and Akiko couldn’t even offer to save Dimitri’s current position, which will be advertised and filled in the next two weeks. But they are good to improvise, offering Samaras “their word of honor” that if he fails in the upcoming Staff Council elections (due in two months) they will find a job for him in another similar post, afterwards. (only if he keeps his mouth shut)
But the real story has nothing to do with Kemal or Akiko’s desire to have a full-time serving President. To do just that would require another two-three years just to align UNDP’s internal policies with those of UN Secretariat, but from internal sources at 21st floor it rather has to do with:
(a) disposing of a “trouble maker” who raises too many questions during ACP deliberations as an ex-officio, making the life of Krishan Batra impossible and disturbing too many Waivers of competitive bid; and
(b) one of the key witness in TUZLA affair;
No one knows, what a multimillion dollar deal for cleaning the Port of Bassra includes – but something is clear, Samaras has really disturbed some odd creatures inside UNDP, that they want him out so badly, and rules in this case doesn’t apply.
Almost a week into the TUZLA investigation inside UNDP, and Kemal Dervis, sent a clear message thru Peri Johnson to one of the main witnesses of the TUZLA process: -“Talk and you will loose even your pay-check”.
On January 10 2008 at 6:02 pm – immediately after a meeting at 21st floor of a small group who call themselves “CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM”, chaired by Chief of Staff Gettu and reporting directly to Kemal Dervis, Peri Johnson (Chief of Legal Office) sent this email to Dimitri Samaras:
------Original Email--------------
From: Peri Johnson
Sent: Thrusrday, January 10, 2008 6:02 pm
To: dimitri.samaras at undp.org
Cc:
Bcc:
Subject: Tuzla – confidential
Dimitri,
I received an email from Maria Milburn in OLA and she indicated that you copied Stephen F. on a response related to your interview. She asked that I inform you that the matter is confidential and that it is not appropriate to copy others in regard to the case and also that you keep everything related to is confidential. I quote, “ I would advise that Mr. Samaras be informed of the impropriety of his act, as described above, and be asked to cease any further communications of this nature. He should also be advised that anything relating to the Tuzla matter should be treated as strictly confidential”
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Best. Peri
Peri L. Johnson (Ms.)
Director
Legal Support Office
----------------------------------
But the dishonesty of the above email stands in the fact that, while Peri is threatening Dimitri for his “alleged copy of one email to his nr.2 of Staff Union Mr. Stephan Flaetgen, she abuses the confidentiality of the email itself and BCC it to at least 4 other people in 21st floor – Office of Administrator as well as she forwards it to OLA in UN Secretariat.
But what is so secret for TUZLA case that Dimitri Samaras should not dare to talk about? What is hidden behind the TUZLA files? Whose skeletons lie in the Tuzla-Closet?
Well it got to be damn important for someone to demote Dimitri Samaras, after 24 years of United Nations distinguished career, a renowned top class procurement expert, and decide that he (dimitri) has to leave his post of Procurement Senior Advisor and Member of ACP (Advisor Committee on Procurement) by end of next week.
Kemal Dervis, Akiko Yuge and the Director of Human Resources as well as James Provenzano, have all decided that it will be “better” for Dimitri Samaras and the organization if: -“he serves as a full time President of Staff Council”. Than Akiko added that : -“once Dimitri is out, we will have to clean up all Procurement Support Office and bring there some of our trusted staff”. (Quotes from minutes of the meeting)
But how can you force a staff member out of his job, to work as a full time Staff Representative – when there are no such rules to regulate and allow this in UNDP in first place. While such positions are properly set and regulated in United Nations Secretariat, where Staff Union members serve their terms as full paid Unionists, retaining also their old position where to return afterward, in UNDP such policy doesn’t exist.
Kemal and Akiko couldn’t even offer to save Dimitri’s current position, which will be advertised and filled in the next two weeks. But they are good to improvise, offering Samaras “their word of honor” that if he fails in the upcoming Staff Council elections (due in two months) they will find a job for him in another similar post, afterwards. (only if he keeps his mouth shut)
But the real story has nothing to do with Kemal or Akiko’s desire to have a full-time serving President. To do just that would require another two-three years just to align UNDP’s internal policies with those of UN Secretariat, but from internal sources at 21st floor it rather has to do with:
(a) disposing of a “trouble maker” who raises too many questions during ACP deliberations as an ex-officio, making the life of Krishan Batra impossible and disturbing too many Waivers of competitive bid; and
(b) one of the key witness in TUZLA affair;
No one knows, what a multimillion dollar deal for cleaning the Port of Bassra includes – but something is clear, Samaras has really disturbed some odd creatures inside UNDP, that they want him out so badly, and rules in this case doesn’t apply.
38 comments:
Dimitri don't deserve this treatment. But seems that he steped into wrong foot !
I don't agree dimitri has always been careful in his relations, frindly with everyone. To me this smell like Indian cuisine, from Krishan, who always seen him as a threat. And with Jim as OIC, he wants to consolidate his power within PSO.
Its more than 6 months that this war of who is going to inherit the title of the chief of PSO is on. Krishan who leaks Akiko's hand has been consolidating his position by giving up hundreds of Waivers as per Akiko and 21st floor commands.
Krishan can deal with James who is as corrupt and as him, but not with Dimitri. That's why he want Samaras out. But I don't think would be that easy.
Ms Peri Johnson is known for harassing staff, but this one goes beyond that. This is really threatening.
while i couldn't agree more with him being a great PR and honest man, the fact is that he has failed to denounce the internal corruption. Why he hasn't come up and tell us about the ACP numerous waivers? He was and is still in the position to make change, but he never dared.
I disagree with all of you guys. He is an honest man. But in our organization if you talk you end up either fired or persecuted. And I believe that Dimitri knows this well. He might have done more to uncover missmanagement, but he always been there for staff and negotiated with management on our behalf.
if the email of peri johnson, published in undp watch is true, than samaras could be a rich man by suing the organization for harassment.
i have knows dimitri since 1996, he is the most honest, dedicated and hard working person in the whole system. For peri to threaten him like this way, means that dimitri has uncover or is seating is smth very explosive.
dimitri should publish what he've got. that's how you shut peri johnson and dervis. i worked in kuwait and am aware of the deal with tuzla. we were about to make payments when regional bureau ordered us to stop. someone in new york didn't wanted tuzla to get their money - that's all
peri johnson is a bitch she will sell her mother for career. you remember the scandal of romesh wife, since then no one wants to work with her. come and ask everyone in our floor they will tell you as much
hey guys don't touch peri - she's a personal friend of Obama and should he win the white house - peri might get the nr2 of UNDP.
peri must be really crazy to send an email like this amids all what's happening now - this would only play against Dervis and her.
my opinion is that you all are worried too much. Dervis would never be ale to win a war on samaras. All unions will come against him. dervis knows well so peri's email is just a tentative to have samaras shut up, which just wont work.
dimitri go on brother all africa is with you.
may god bless you dimitri. Here in Timor all office is with you. dont' let them get to you. Your honesty will prevail.
greetings from burundi we all support you dimitri. may god bless you !!!
for me seating here in copenhagen, reading the news on UNDP Watch makes me feel really sick about the organization I am working for.
I just want to reiterate to Dimitri that he has a high regard from all the staff in copenhagen.
Working in Human Resources, and dealing with entitlements, i can say from my direct hand-on experience that UNDP do not have any provision for a full-time staff council. We need to align all our frameowrk with those of Secretariat in order to do that. Moving out Dimitri on this ground is highly irregular, and not based in our rules.
On Peri Johnson email I can only say that it makes me feel bad for her and her superiors. This is a sad day for UNDP.
Keep strong Dimitri, we won't let you down.
Hi from Sarajevo, i don't know dimitri personally but have been following his messages to all staff in the past 2 years. I have to say that he has always been there for us and raised some important concerns in his letters. The reaction of the management towards him seem like a retaliation because he might have discovered smth.
For the sake of our own ethics all the staff should never allow that Dimitri be touched. He is a symbol of honesty and personification of the perfect UN staff.
My vote is with you Dimitri.
Greetings from Bangkok. Dear colleagues, what UNDP Watch is bringing us here today is a direct challenge from the current management to all of us. Since we casted our votes for Dimitri to be our President of Staff Council, we deliberately chose him to be the face and voice of the staff. An attack on Dimitri is a direct attack on all of us. We should not permit this impunity to continue in our organization. My opinion UNDP Staff Council should call for a vote of confidence on Kemal Dervis and Ad Melkert. It's about time that we make our voice heard.
Dimitri you can count on many of us here in Bangkok, we are with you.
If Dervis would dare to touch Dimitri samaras, all the staff would demand his firing from the UNDP.
Here in lebanon the UNDP staff is disgusted from people that Dervis sent us. Martha Ruedas has shown to be a real corrupt individual who don't care about anything else but her own connections and how to bring them here in lebanon as consultants with 1000 US$ a day.
Meanwhile Ms. Ruedas has been presuring the country office to pass a 5 million USD$ for CISCO afiliated company, without any competitive bid. We had calls from Krishan Batra and even Jan Mattsson of UNOPS whom are directly involved in the CISCO affair.
If it wasn't for Dimitri to stop this corruption today this 5 million contract would have been approved.
Keep strong Dimitri - we know who you are.
here in UNDP India we know both Dimitri and Krishan. Therefore I would not agree with the geralization and use of the term "Indian". That Krishan Batra is corrupt this is a fact and can be easily proved. But saying that all "indians" are corrupt this is totally not correct, discriminatory and offensive.
I had the honor to meet Dimitri during my visits at HQs and training there. He is amazing, always ready to help. Between Krishan and Dimitri, I can assure you that here in UNDP India Dimitri would score much higher.
Anazingly beautiful stuff to reveal the dark sides of UNDP operations.
It's high time that some of these guys at ACP and the 21st floor (!!!) get cornered and CAUGHT.
Thanks Dimitri for what you are, and thanks to all those who remain pure and honest no matter what.
TRUTH WILL PREVAIL.
why should Dimitri Samaras be the only one removed from ACP? If Dervis wants to show some kind of commitment to cleaning up the place and to transparency, he should remove everyone, including Provenzano and Batra, and bring new blood.
i agree. If Samaras shoul be out, than everybody out. Clean cut witht he past. We've got to restore trust and faith of donors an member states on us.
oh yeah - a new beginning for ACP and all Finance and Aminitration management is a must. I don't see why should UNDP have a PSO in New York while the brain of UN procurement is located here in copenhagen, including IAPSO and UNGM. Bring them all in one place - economy of scale.
good discussion - still don't change the fact that Mr. Samaras is being targeted without ue process.
i concur with the anonymous that we need a due process in place. While deciding to remove those in NY and transfer to Compenhagen, it has to be an open transparent process that shouldn't penalize.
In country office like ours which are involved in One-UN-Reform, we went thru enourmous efforts to build trust among our sister organizations and agencies. One of the main areas were very concerned were the ability to provide a one system aproach to procurement, such are joint vendor lists to respond to joint programming requirements. Is not only my opinion that current ACP is inadequate to respond to the growing necessities of One UN initiatives. I would rather opt for smth closer to us, maybe some kind of regional facilities with multiple actors from other agencies as well. Bringing some colour to our ACP, would expand its knowledge base and ultimately increase trust of our sister organizations on us. Example WFP which programme includes quite combersome procurement process. Finally I don't see the rational of removing one individual and keeping others.
From my CO I cannot access ACP online, have been asking so long and Krishan never replies. I can't unerstand what's going on in NY, but this is very fishyyyyyy.
me too cannot access ACP online. It pop out a message saying that I cannot review cases of my own country office, unless created an uploaded from me. Very strange. I could before Dec 07 - why not now. What's the rationale. No one seems to know or tell.
no disrespect to Samaras, but i think that procurement staff should not be part of deliberative proces of ACP. Is a direct conflict of interest. Theya re the one to draw the procurement plans, they are the ones to draw specifications, and having them ultimately decide who wins, is odd.
i agree with other colleagues to move on an have a ACP body compose by multiple professionals, representing multiple skills that have nothing to do with procurement. Attached to this boy we should have a advisory panel of procurement staff (like Samaras and Provenzano) who should not have the right to vote rather advise on process and rules.
Faster the Administrator makes this change, better chances for UNDP to recuperate the lost reputation.
I totally agree UNDP HQs should review modalities and compositions of not only ACP at HQs, but first and foremost the LCAPs in COs. Administration officials, who ultimately would raise the requisitions, POs and effect payment shoul not be involved in decision making. Aministrator should enforce internal control mechanisms. On Samaras case I stand by him because he is a very honest man & removing him seem to have nothing to do with attempt to reenergize the ACP, rather with personal vendeta.
je considere a personal vendeta this actions against Samaras.
how you all be so naive and demande that Dervis make changes in ACP, when he seem to be the architect of it all. Change should come from the top, meaning Dervis, Melkert, Yuge should all go now. Samaras has to come clean too of what his thoughts are of current ACP, or what he knows about past cases. He've got some explanations to give to all staff, since he has been part of ACP for so long. You can't fault Provenzano and Batra for it all. Where was Samaras when all this corruption happened? Same room with them. So?
dervis should fire peri Johnson. This is harrassment.
Too many direct desk reviews, too many waivers, and not much professionalism by several ACP members, some of whom do not even take time to read the submissions properly before the weekly Wednesday meeting takes place or are in a hurry to get the meeting over with: in favor of such case, and against that one...
The current online submission format itself is inadequate. Add to it the impossibility for the COs / submitting Officer to provide on the spot verbal explanations -- while the review is being conducted -- to justify the tendering process/etc, and you have the perfect recipe/set-up to let some people with decision power to manipulate the process and the end result, and cause considerable delays in the review/approval process.
Samaras is seen as a threat to the "clan" because he consistently raises profound ethical questions. He's disturbing to them and that's why they want him out.
Eventually, the crooks will get caught.
dervis claims that now we have our own internal ethics office. Samaras should use this office to initiate an investigation of peri johnson, on retaliation, intimidation and discriminatory grounds.
which ethics officer are you referring to? Bhalla? He is part of our Indian mafia clan under the leadership of darshak shah. He also us still OIC not yet full term officer, therefore will do whatever Dervis commands.
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