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The Joint Public Accounts Committee convened today to examine, in the first instance, the Auditor General’s Report covering April 2016 to March 2017, with members raising questions about discrepancies in the document and gaps in financial reporting from several government departments. The meeting was chaired by Godwin Haylock, who opened the session by outlining the committee’s responsibility to scrutinize the findings of the Office of the Auditor General and ensure accountability in the management of public funds. Leading the presentation was Maria Rodriguez, who has served in the Auditor General’s Office for twenty-six years and was appointed Auditor General last year. During the meeting, members of the committee posed a number of questions regarding the findings contained in the report. Among those raising concerns was Janelle Chanona, who referenced a March 10 letter pointing to discrepancies in the report, particularly those noted on page sixty-three. Chanona also questioned the impact that missing financial submissions had on the report’s overall completeness, noting that several ministries and the Accountant General’s Department had not provided the necessary statements and documentation. Rodriguez explained that the absence of required reports from some ministries and the Accountant General’s Department significantly limited the scope of the audit, making it difficult for the Auditor General’s Office to present a fully comprehensive assessment of government finances for the period under review.
Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General: “I saw that there is a typographical error that repeated the number from the previous row at the bottom so it made it appear that there is a difference of nineteen million when in reality that row doesn’t belong there any at all.”
Janelle Chanona, NGO Senator: “And I believe that would have led you as the professional you’ve been for the last twenty six years to go over all the other tables.”
Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General: “Absolutely. We took the time and we stayed up late and I believe Mr. Grant got this letter late the 10th because I made sure to review the entire book once again to make sure that there is nothing else that we need to bring to the attention of this committee.”
Janelle Chanona, NGO Senator: “So notwithstanding that sole typographical error , I did note that once again the report for 2016/2017 is preceded by a disclaimer. Can you please walk through for the public’s awareness and information what that means ?”
Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General: “Yes unfortunately once again we were not able to receive complete and full details of the source documents for the transactions presented in the financial statements. In the report I mentioned that we made our own attempt to go to these storerooms because if you’re saying you don’t have it then let’s go and find out ourselves that you don’t have it. And in deed it was very difficult, a tedious process to obtain information from the Accountant General’s Storeroom for several reasons quoted in the report. But we also attempted to go to individual line ministries which also posed difficulty in getting information to substantiate what was presented in the financial statements.”
Janelle Chanona, NGO Senator: “Thank you for going there because my next general question would have also been to highlight that at several instances you note exactly that. I believe one ministry in its entirety, I believe it was the Ministry of Natural Resources at the time you couldn’t even meet with someone there.”
Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General: “No. And I am glad that this is being highlighted because many instances the executive says to my staff “I’m not available.” Or they simply don’t respond and I don’t have where to go. Where do I go to say they don’t want to make themselves available ? So I think that is very important to highlight that this point separate and distinct from parliament the executive has to make themselves available to answer queries from the Office of the Auditor General.”
Janelle Chanona, NGO Senator: “I believe in solution oriented problem solving, is this something that needs to be addressed legislatively in terms of consequences or how would you recommend to this committee in terms of highlighting next steps to address what is apparently a perennial issue ?”
Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General: “First and foremost as parliamentarians you do have governance overview over these ministries and I believe it it starts from you so it will be good that from this end going to Cabinet informing them and informing their CEOs that this cannot happen again because I’m going to continuously report if you’re not making yourself available to me.”
Janelle Chanona, NGO Senator: “So just to highlight because, and we will get to the fact that we’re talking about a ten year report, but is it it then your position then that I’m hearing that this remains an ongoing issue as you proceed with your auditing duties in terms of live issues ?”
Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General: “It is an ongoing issue and unfortunately one of the root causes is improper hading over. The new people that are there will say well I wasn’t here ten years ago, I don’t know anything about it but it shouldn’t be that way. The regulations give way for proper handing over. When someone leaves somebody else needs to get proper handing over to know what they are receiving you just don’t take it on, you don’t know what you’re getting.”
Love News understands that additional matters were raised during the session, and we will have more details from today’s Joint Public Accounts Committee meeting in subsequent newscasts./
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