Alternate PNP majority Senate spokesperson Juan Oscar Morales insisted Wednesday that Family Department Secretary Suzanne Roig Fuertes should resign over the hiring process for NOLA Education, whose Star Academy proposal for students at risk of dropping out contemplated a contract of up to $38.5 million funded by federal TANF funds. The department awarded the process to the company, but the contract was never formalized, according to the secretary.
Speaking on El Nuevo Día’s program Lo de Hoy, Morales said there is "sufficient cause" to request her resignation. He questioned documents Roig Fuertes delivered to the Senate Family, Women, Elderly Persons and Functional Diversity Committee, which is investigating the hiring. He also alleged a seven-year-old child had slept two days in the department’s Arecibo regional office and said employees report "brutal" demoralization.
Morales flagged a discrepancy: LAP Consulting Group billed for evaluating 20 proposals, but the secretary’s Senate certification said 16, and she has not delivered the consultant’s worksheets. Coccoloba AgroEnvironmental LLC, which denies submitting a proposal, and its president Christian W. Torres Santana have filed a $2.5 million civil lawsuit against Roig Fuertes, LAP Consulting, the government and others.
Morales also questioned that some LAP employees also work at the Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA) and asked the Treasury Department to certify their 480 information returns by Friday.