by Tony Best

A Bajan who founded and headed a major social services agency in New York is being investigated by law enforcement officials on suspicion of fraud.

Seibert Phillips, who once made more than US$300 000 a year as executive director of the Evelyn Douglin Centre, which works with children and adults suffering from mental disabilities, is suspected of giving a friend a US$250 000 no-show job; and allowing a close relative to un up almost US$20 000 in petrol charges on the centre's credit card.

Other allegations include: making illegal political campaign contributions to a member of the New York State Assembly and using the agency's funds on an array of high-priced items, ranging from luxury automobiles and flat screen television sets to travel for himself and staffers, according to the New York Daily News.

Brooklyn District Attorney investigators and officials of the New York State Attorney-General's office are also said to be looking into Phillip's background to determine if his claims of having university degrees are accurate.

Officials trace the centre's history to humble origins, beginning in Phillips' relativly small Brooklyn apartment and financed by a US$27 000 government grant. Today, it runs ten group homes and day services for hundreds of clients and has a budget of US$14 million, provided by city and state governments.

In addition to his alleged penchant for expensive clothes and automobiles, not to mention fine wines, Phillips was portrayed as an executive who wasn't reluctant to criticise people who may have crossed him or who were seen as incompetent.

But those who knew him well and were favourably disposed to him, painted a far different picture, that of a devoted and aggressive advocate for the mentally disabled.

They described him as an executive who would get out of his bed in the dead of night and drive long distances from his home in Rockland County to New York City to ensure that the mentally disabled were well protected and cared for.

In addition, his presentations on behalf of the mentally disabled were said to be crisp, eloquent and moving, evidence of a man who cared for the vulnerable clients across the city and the state.

Phillips has been suspended from his job, stated the Daily News.

The Nation was unable to reach the Bajan for a comment.