American Taxpayers get hit twice at the World Meteorological Organization
Posted September 21st, 2009 at 1:43pm in American Leadership 
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As if we needed another example of why the U.N. and its affiliated organizations have earned a reputation for poor accountability, opacity, and mismanagement, along comes a scandal from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The WMO is a U.N. specialized agency based in Geneva. The U.S. is a member of the WMO and gave the organization $1.9 million in 2008 and 2009. The FY 2010 budget request for the WMO is $2.2 million.
A couple of years ago, WMO internal auditor Maria do Rosario Veiga was fired after refusing to discontinue investigations an embezzlement scheme where WMO officials stole $3.5 million and used the money to buy votes to secure the election of Michel Jarraud to be Secretary General of the organization. Despite demands from U.S. Congressmen, no investigation into her dismissal was conducted.
She appealed to the International Labor Office Administrative Tribunal which reviewed her case and found that she was wrongly dismissed. FOX News has the conclusion to the story, “Nearly four years after her dismissal, Veiga, a Portuguese national, has been awarded what is believed to be one of the largest amounts ever paid by the International Labor Office Administrative Tribunal. The ILOAT awarded Veiga $476,098 for defamation, harassment and wrongful termination while carrying out her recognized audit duties.”
As one of the largest contributors to the WMO, the U.S. is a double loser here. The stolen money doubtlessly involved U.S. contributions and, as a financier of the WMO, we will have to pay a share of Veiga’s award. But the worst part is that Jarraud was appointed to a second four year term in 2008. Who says crime doesn’t pay?
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5 Responses to “American Taxpayers get hit twice at the World Meteorological Organization”
harleyj on September 21st, 2009 at 1:43pm said:
GO TO THIS SITE AND (1) LEARN WHO THE REAL CULPRITS ARE REGARDING OUR RECENT ECONOMIC FAILURE WHICH BEGAIN IN DECEMBER 2007; 7 YEARS MINUS 1 MONTH AFTER G W BUSH WAS INAUGURATED….AND (2) THEN ADD THE OBSCENE RUN-UP IN OIL PRICES & GAS PRICES AT THE PUMP WHICH WAS THE CATALYST TO THE ECONOMIC DESCENT & (3) THE DRASTIC INCREASE IN THE COST OF COLLEGE EDUCATION WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE CONTRACTION OF ENDOWMENTS & (4) WELL, TAKE YOUR PICK BUT OBAMA DID’T CAUSE IT AND NEITHER DID BILL CLINTON…..BUSH’S LAISSEZ FAIRE APPROACH TO REGULATIONS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT BUT WALL STREET’S CREATION OF ALL THOSE EXOTIC SECURITIES AND THE INABILITY OF THE FED AND THE SEC…..AS EXPLAINED BY GREENSPAN…JUST GO THE SITE BELOW:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?play=1&video=1145392808
Bill, San Antonio TX on September 21st, 2009 at 1:43pm said:
ACORN ON A GLOBAL (UN) SCALE.
Why was there no investigation? The immediate response should have been no more US Funds until an investigation was completed.
Then the indignant cry goes out. “The US doesn’t care about their obligations!”
That could not be further from the truth. The corrupt people abusing and misusing funds are responsible for “hurting” those who need money from the WMO. They should be identified and exposed in every major world newspaper.
Ultimately, it is OUR fault because we will not stand up and just say NO. It is politics as usual on an international level.
Am I an “extremist” for demanding accountability both within and without our government?
The people who make these decisions are by and far, already wealthy. It must be nice to make those “tough” decisions while taxing and spending this nation into oblivion.
But, as mentioned, THEY already have theirs…
matthew queens, ny on September 21st, 2009 at 1:43pm said:
the U.N. is a waste of our taxpayer money. What have we gotten for it but grief. Always wish we were able to pull out of the U.N. and start a smaller organization that has a criteria that you must be a true functioning democracy. Also everybody chips in equally and not rely on us for our money.
Rob on September 21st, 2009 at 1:43pm said:
Wouldn’t it be refreshing to see a U.S. President with the guts to stand up to these thieves?
Whicket Williams Kingsbury, Tx on September 21st, 2009 at 1:43pm said:
We should de-fund the u.n. and every other organization that is sucking us dry and use the money to pay down the national debt.