$962M unlawfully spent without meeting criteria – 2014 AG report

By Kiana Wilburg
The 2014 Auditor General’s (AG) Report has once again flagged the inappropriate use of the Contingencies Fund under the previous administration, as $962M was withdrawn without meeting the specified criteria.

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma

The Contingencies Fund is a sub-fund of the Consolidated Fund, which is the main government account for expenditure and is used for emergency expenditure only.
In his latest report, Auditor General , Deodat Sharma said that in accordance with Section 41 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act of 2003 (FMA ), the Minister of Finance “may approve a Contingencies Fund Advance as an expenditure out of the Consolidated Fund by the issuance of a drawing right”.
He reminded however that the criteria require the Minister to be satisfied that: “an urgent, unavoidable and unforeseen need for the expenditure has arisen (a) for which no moneys have been appropriated or for which the sum appropriated is insufficient; (b) for which moneys cannot be reallocated as provided for under this Act; or (c) which cannot be deferred without injury to the public interest….”.
Sharma said that where any advance is made, a supplementary estimate must be laid before the National Assembly as soon as is practicable for the purpose of properly authorizing the replacement of the amount advanced.
According to the Statement of Receipts and Payments of the Contingencies Fund, the AG’s 2014 report said that amounts totaling $2.624 billion were drawn from the Fund by way of forty-six advances.
It said that previous reports highlighted instances where the criteria were not fully met for the granting of some advances. He said that there has been closer monitoring of advances issued out of the Contingencies Fund, resulting in only nine advances totaling $961.878M which did not meet the criteria.
These advances were for the extension works to the Labour Department Building, to meet expenses for the completion of the Citizen Security Work Programme, Construction of the floating Mobile Unit for the Guyana Police Force, to supplement inadequate funds for the operation of the automated fingerprint information system and to purchase medical and military kits for the force.
The Ministry of Finance indicated that it continues to ensure that there is full compliance with the requirements of the FMA Act as it relates to the granting of Contingencies Fund Advances.
The Audit Office, notwithstanding the aforementioned response, recommended that the Ministry of Finance adopt stringent measures to ensure that there is compliance with Section 41 of the FMA Act concerning the criteria for the granting of advances from the Contingencies Fund.
The 2013 Auditor General’s Report also reflected that that money was taken from the Contingencies Fund in breach of the nation’s fiscal laws.
Sharma noted in his report that for the year 2013, $510M was withdrawn from the Contingencies Fund which did not meet the specified criteria.
In his 2012 report, he had said that $95.661M in advances was drawn from the Fund but it did not meet the criteria.
Over the years, the abuse of the Contingencies Fund was a topical issue for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) while they served as the Parliamentary opposition.
AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan had emphasized on several occasions that the National Assembly is the first device or mechanism for which emergency advances can be protected from abuse.
The politician had asserted, “The (PPP) has been abusing their understanding of the criteria of an emergency under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act.
“When we run to the Fund it is only to be used for emergency cases, like if there is a serious flood in Mahaicony and we need to remove citizens, money would be used in that case. But I understand that they are using the Contingencies Fund to relieve the National Communications Network.
He had even appealed for the former President, Donald Ramotar, to assent to the amendment made to the FMA Act.
“The amendment seeks to clarify a part of the Act which has to do with officers who can be prosecuted for the abuse of the Fund. But it is the Minister (Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh) we understand to be giving such directions.
“He gives the permission for the money to be used, and as such he needs to be held accountable. The (former) President, by not assenting to this amendment, is also condoning this and allowing criminality to continue.
“I am begging the people of this nation to understand that it is their money that is being abused and to realize what kind of government they had,” Ramjattan had said.
The Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2015 was tabled by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan in the National Assembly and was passed.

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....eria-2014-ag-report/

Billions siphoned off from Transport and Harbours Dept. in 2003-2007

 – Min. Patterson tells Parliament 
By Abena Rockcliffe 
Major discrepancies have been found in a few of the Auditor General’s reports on financial statements of the Transport and Harbours Department over the years 2003-2007.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

It appears as if billions of dollars have been siphoned off from the revenue of this Department, which falls under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure previously known as the Ministry of Public Works.
The money went unaccounted for under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, while Anthony Xavier was Minister of Public Works.
Yesterday, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, despite being disrupted by Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, read excerpts from the reports.
He indicated that over the years, the Department’s income was grossly understated and the expenses were inflated.
Patterson was then interrupted by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland who told the Minister that he would not allow the reading of the excerpts, since the document he was reading from was not circulated, neither was it on the Order Paper.
Patterson had to momentarily take his seat, but the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, quickly clarified that it was indeed on the Order Paper and was likewise circulated.
Given the opportunity to speak again, Patterson indicated that the document he read from was available since 2012 but the PPP/C, “for obvious reasons,” refused to have it laid in the House.
In 2003, the amount of $597M was reported as income for the Transport and Harbours Department. However, a review by the Auditor General disclosed an income of $639M – a difference of $43M between the actual income and the stated amount.
In addition, daily revenue returns that were prepared and sent by the outstation were not presented for audit verification. As a result, details of revenue collected at outstations could not be verified.
Also, amounts totaling $156.4M were stated as expended for the administrative expenses. However, the general ledger reflected the amount of $154.5M, giving a difference of just over 1.9M.
As a result, the accuracy, completeness and validity of the amount expended could not have been ascertained.
Again in 2004, the operating income was stated as $332.1M. However, the AG’s report showed an income of $639M – a difference of $307M.
The trend continued in 2005.  In that year, $362.8M represented the operating income earned but an analysis of the revenue reflected  the amount $658.3M.
It was found that the revenue collected was understated by $295.5M.
The year 2006 was no different. In that year, $488M was declared revenue but an analysis reflected the amount $805.2M was understated by $317.2.
Then in 2007, $718M was declared as the revenue for that year but it was actually $830.4M understated by $112.3M.
“Because of the significance of the matters described in the preceding paragraphs, I do not express an opinion on the financial statements,” said the Auditor General in his report.

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....s-dept-in-2003-2007/

Previous Govt. waived US$303M on vehicles, other items in 2014

– Auditor General report
The 2014 report of the Auditor General has finally been released and its findings are raising shocking questions over the amount of money the previous Government was waiving on vehicle duties.

GRA’s head,
Khurshid Sattaur

Last year alone, the report said, a whopping $63.2B was granted, as compared to the $55.5B for the previous year.
The figures would speak volumes when it is taken into account that the country’s total budget for last year was $221B. In 2013, the National Budget was $208B.
It is the first time that Guyana is learning about an area that had remained a closely guarded secret under the previous government.
The biggest group to benefit was the companies or businesses. Some $41.5B in duties was waived last year. In 2013, it was $34B.
The report did not go into details as to which businesses and organizations benefited.
Ministries and government departments were the next biggest beneficiaries, receiving $4.4B.
Just over $1.7B was exempted based on applications from remigrants while churches and charitable organizations received almost $1.68B.
Other categories which received tax exemptions were diplomats, public and contracted officers and foreign funded projects.
Duty free concessions have been a hot-button topic within recent years with the former Opposition accusing the previous government under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) of mismanaging it. There were reports that persons living overseas were abusing the concessions by claiming they were coming back to live but really had either sold the vehicle to family or friends or independent auto dealers. With millions of dollars saved on every vehicle granted duty free concessions, there were huge profits to be made.
Still, there were foreign investors who also reportedly benefited from large amounts of duties waived.

Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh

The former Opposition had been questioning the assessment systems in place to gauge the benefit of the country from waived duties. There has not been any clear answer coming from the previous administration.
What is known is that the Guyana Revenue Authority was tasked with the final release of the vehicles and items when tax exemptions are granted.
According to the Auditor General’s report, a special investigation was conducted into allegations involving tax exemptions granted on luxury vehicles to remigrants between 2008 and 2013. “Investigations revealed that fifteen remigrants apparently submitted fictitious documents for the importation of luxury vehicles, and also breached the conditions under which the relevant tax exemptions were granted.”
A preliminary report was issued to the Board of Directors of GRA with recommendations for appropriate disciplinary action against culpable officers, as well as taking action to recover taxes. According to State auditors, at the time of reporting, the position remained the same.
GRA was slammed for not keeping a Remissions Register to record the amounts granted during the year. Heading the GRA is Commissioner-General, Khurshid Sattaur.
The Minister of Finance last year was Dr. Ashni Singh.
“Despite repeated verbal and written requests, the administration presented only 100 exemption files for audit examination from a sample of 126 files requested. It should be noted that seventy-four of the files were only submitted on 18 September 2015. As a result, the scope of the audit was restricted due to the non- submission of all the files.”

The concessions granted last year as compared to the previous year.

GRA, in its response to the State auditor’s note, claimed that all of its information is stored in its Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS) network and reports can be generated by the Information Technology Division for specific purposes.
“It was never a requirement to maintain a manual register. The CG Number has certain codes that allow Information Technology to generate reports if required.”
However, the Audit report insisted that GRA must take immediate steps to introduce a Remission Register and to put systems in place to ensure that there is adequate accountability for tax exemption files so that these are produced for audit in a timely manner.

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....other-items-in-2014/

Previous Govt. waived US$303M on vehicles, other items in 2014

OCTOBER 23, 2015 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS 

– Auditor General report
The 2014 report of the Auditor General has finally been released and its findings are raising shocking questions over the amount of money the previous Government was waiving on vehicle duties.

GRA’s head,
Khurshid Sattaur

Last year alone, the report said, a whopping $63.2B was granted, as compared to the $55.5B for the previous year.
The figures would speak volumes when it is taken into account that the country’s total budget for last year was $221B. In 2013, the National Budget was $208B.
It is the first time that Guyana is learning about an area that had remained a closely guarded secret under the previous government.
The biggest group to benefit was the companies or businesses. Some $41.5B in duties was waived last year. In 2013, it was $34B.
The report did not go into details as to which businesses and organizations benefited.
Ministries and government departments were the next biggest beneficiaries, receiving $4.4B.
Just over $1.7B was exempted based on applications from remigrants while churches and charitable organizations received almost $1.68B.
Other categories which received tax exemptions were diplomats, public and contracted officers and foreign funded projects.
Duty free concessions have been a hot-button topic within recent years with the former Opposition accusing the previous government under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) of mismanaging it. There were reports that persons living overseas were abusing the concessions by claiming they were coming back to live but really had either sold the vehicle to family or friends or independent auto dealers. With millions of dollars saved on every vehicle granted duty free concessions, there were huge profits to be made.
Still, there were foreign investors who also reportedly benefited from large amounts of duties waived.

Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh

The former Opposition had been questioning the assessment systems in place to gauge the benefit of the country from waived duties. There has not been any clear answer coming from the previous administration.
What is known is that the Guyana Revenue Authority was tasked with the final release of the vehicles and items when tax exemptions are granted.
According to the Auditor General’s report, a special investigation was conducted into allegations involving tax exemptions granted on luxury vehicles to remigrants between 2008 and 2013. “Investigations revealed that fifteen remigrants apparently submitted fictitious documents for the importation of luxury vehicles, and also breached the conditions under which the relevant tax exemptions were granted.”
A preliminary report was issued to the Board of Directors of GRA with recommendations for appropriate disciplinary action against culpable officers, as well as taking action to recover taxes. According to State auditors, at the time of reporting, the position remained the same.
GRA was slammed for not keeping a Remissions Register to record the amounts granted during the year. Heading the GRA is Commissioner-General, Khurshid Sattaur.
The Minister of Finance last year was Dr. Ashni Singh.
“Despite repeated verbal and written requests, the administration presented only 100 exemption files for audit examination from a sample of 126 files requested. It should be noted that seventy-four of the files were only submitted on 18 September 2015. As a result, the scope of the audit was restricted due to the non- submission of all the files.”

The concessions granted last year as compared to the previous year.

GRA, in its response to the State auditor’s note, claimed that all of its information is stored in its Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS) network and reports can be generated by the Information Technology Division for specific purposes.
“It was never a requirement to maintain a manual register. The CG Number has certain codes that allow Information Technology to generate reports if required.”
However, the Audit report insisted that GRA must take immediate steps to introduce a Remission Register and to put systems in place to ensure that there is adequate accountability for tax exemption files so that these are produced for audit in a timely manner.

 

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....other-items-in-2014/

So why dont they build a case and go after these people???

The Auditor General's Annual Report for 2014 was only released yesterday.

New GPC still to deliver on four-year-old drug contract

New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC), the previous administration’s largest supplier of drugs and medical supplies, was still benefiting from large contracts, mere days before the administration’s last financial year came to an end.

New GPC’s Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop

This information was laid bare in the audited accounts of Government’s expenditure. The accounts were tabled in the National Assembly on Thursday last, by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.
New GPC is owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, a close associate of the former President Bharrat Jagdeo.
According to the audited reports, not only was Ramroop being handed contracts days before the financial year came to an end, his company was also still to deliver millions of dollars’ worth of drugs on a contract he had been paid for, four years earlier.
The discrepancies raised by the Auditor General have since been flagged in his official 2014 report.
Compounding the situation, the report found too, that Ramroop’s New GPC was also still being used by the Ministry of Health to store Drugs and Medical Supplies at its Ruimveldt Storage Bond, this despite construction of its own state of the art facility at Diamond East Bank Demerara.
As it relates to drug supplies last year, the Auditor General found that three contracts were awarded to the New GPC in May and December 2014, in the sum of $2.2B.
The contracts are being flagged not just in relation to the time of the year at which point it was awarded, but the Auditor General’s Office found too that new GPC did not fully comply with the requirement stipulated in the contracts, and instead delivered drugs and other items that did not have the required shelf life.
The contract document, according to the Auditor General, states that “the shelf life for the product shall not be a minimum of 18 months from the date of final acceptance for pharmaceuticals, and a minimum of 24 months for medical supplies or as determined by the purchaser.”
An examination of the payment vouchers, contract documents, invoices, delivery notes and other related documents revealed that items delivered did not have the required shelf life.
“As a result, the supplier did not fully comply with the requirements stipulated in the contracts.”
The discrepancies flagged by the Auditor General also centered on New GPC’s failure to deliver some $11.9M on a contract it received four years ago in 2011.
Irregular supplies and the delivery of items with limited shelf life were also not the only problems discovered by the Auditor General when it comes to new GPC contracts. Issues were also raised in relation to bank guarantees that the company provided as security.
It was found that eight contracts valued at $2.6B were awarded to New GPC for the supply of
Drugs and medical supplies
Two of those contracts were supported by bank guarantees in the sum of $2.2B and were required to be valid for 28 days after the expiration of the contracts.
The Auditor General found, however, that there were no guarantees in force at the time of audit examination in July 2015, even though the suppliers were still to deliver goods valued at $335.8M.
The problems with Ramroop’s New GPC and bank guarantees are not a new one. It was noted by the Auditor General that there were similar instances the previous year.
It was reported that in 2013, the New GPC was awarded ten contracts valued at $2.3B of which freight charges totaled $180.5M.
The contracts were supported by six bank guarantees with an aggregate value of $2.56B.
The guarantees were required to be valid for one year, but each had a validity of only three months and a set expiry pattern in months ending October 2013, January 2014, February 2014, March 2014 and June 2014.
This meant that there were no guarantees in force at the time of the examination, even though the contractor was still to deliver goods valued at $323.321M, as at September 30, 2014.
In 2014, the remaining balance of $145M on a contract was paid, revising the outstanding amount to $496.2M, of which deliveries totaling $359.6M were received, leaving goods valued at $136.637M still to be delivered.

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....r-old-drug-contract/

I hope it's only me.  I would have feverishly read these articles to see exactly how the PPP corrupted and stole from Guyana, but nowadays I don't seem to care because I expect nothing to happen.  This is all political hogwash in the press.  When the coalition is ready to start pressing charges alyuh wake me up.  To me the coalition lost valuable political capital due to their greed.

2014 Auditor General Report …Tender Board evaluators found to be incompetent

…No due diligence was conducted 
The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has been flagged for several improprieties in the latest report by Auditor General (AG), Deodat Sharma.
Sharma said that each Ministerial, Departmental and Agency Tender Board shall nominate for consideration by the National Board, qualified evaluators to serve on Evaluation Committees.
However, Sharma said in his 2014 report that a pool of evaluators was created and evaluation committees were formed to adjudicate on procurement subject to its jurisdiction.
He said that the NPTAB did not exercise due diligence to ensure that the persons appointed as evaluators had the expertise and experience as specified in the Procurement Act.
In its defence, the NPTAB told the AG that its Chairman explained that a letter has been issued by the National Board, to all Regional, Ministerial, Departmental and Agency Tender Boards drawing to their attention Sections 20 (1) and 23 (1) of the Procurement act 2003.
Those sections require each Regional, Ministerial, Departmental and Agency Tender Board to nominate for consideration by the National Board, qualified evaluators to serve on Evaluation Committees; and requesting that they submit for the Board’s scrutiny, the qualifications and/or experience of the persons nominated by them to serve on Evaluation Committees.
The AG however emphasized on its recommendation to the NPTAB that in appointing Tender Evaluators, the National Board should ensure that Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Regions undertake checks to ensure that candidates have the necessary expertise before nominations are made to the National Board. Equally, Sharma said that when directly appointing evaluators, the National Board should keep documentation to provide evidence of the checks undertaken.
Pointing to another impropriety, Sharma said that as part of its mandate, the NPTAB is required to establish a Bid Protest Committee to deal with alleged breaches of the Act by procuring entities.
He said that this Committee’s role also included the review of complaints by aggrieved suppliers and contractors who were dissatisfied with a procuring entity’s response to a complaint.
Sharma stated that no committees were formed during the period of the audit although there had been breaches of the Act by procuring entities.
In light of this observation, NPTAB said that its Chairman explained that all steps which form part of the protest mechanism are followed by the procuring entities and the National Board.
It said that most protests have been resolved without having to invoke the Bid Protest Committee mechanism and to the satisfaction of the tenderers who sought the reviews.  The Board said that in a few instances the aggrieved party took
the matter to court.
In spite of this response, the Auditor General still insisted that in the interest if ensuring transparency in the procurement process and the fair treatment of suppliers, the National Board should ensure that all complaints are dealt with formally, and in strict compliance with Section 53 of the Procurement Act 2003. He said, too, that in the absence of the Public Procurement Commission, it should establish procedures, to comply with section 17(2) (f) of the Procurement Act, which speaks to the Bid Protest Committee so as to enable them to effectively adjudicate on debarment proceedings.

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....d-to-be-incompetent/

How is this political? These blatant acts of corruption by the PPP are being reported on by the Auditor General in his annual report. The same Auditor General who was appointed during the PPP's reign. Do you expect the Auditor General to abandon his annual report because it will expose massive PPP corruption?

AFC/PNC can talk shyte all day long.

They can prove ZERO in a court of law.

In addition to the Auditor General's report, lately we have been getting preliminary reports on the various forensic audits. They all indicate financial irregularities/corruption. However, it boggles the mind why the government is hesitant to arrest and charge the culprits involved. And there is the special case of that ex-GPL Deputy CEO who pocketed $27 million and is a free man. What is the government waiting for? We want action!

Gil some things really do not make sense.

Harmond open his mouth about the Deputy CEO at GPL.

Everyone think Harmond gon lock up the thief.

Then we hear Harmond agree to give the Fella lil time to transfer the Money back to Guyana.

Felix is In Charge of Immigration and control all ports of Entry & Exit.

Now we hearing De Fella out the Country.....and he enjoying de money.

Basil Williams & Felix.....were caught on tape trying to plant drugs on a lady at the Airport.

Now it appears the Old PNC Burmhamite School back in Business..... Hamilton Green is the Head Master .... AGAIN.

Our Friend Clairmont Lye said it right in his letter....

The President promised a government that was “not a bogus civic alliance.”

Yet within days of taking office,

they breached the Cummingsburg Accord.

If they could do that to th...eir own coalition partner,

how could the people trust them on any issue?

And the President has offered no explanation for this.

The Honeymoon is over....

Like you and others

who support Moses & The AFC.....

we expect the President 

to Explain what is going on.....

Seven ex-Govt. officials got lion’s share of $144M medical aid package

Seven former government officials received the lion’s share of government’s medical assistance last year, utilizing more than a third of the total allocation.
Government last year expended $144M in medical aid to 505 persons, with seven government officials receiving over $45M. The remaining amount was used to assist over 495 persons.
It works out to an average of $198,000 being spent on each of the 498 private individuals assisted by Government last year, while seven of its officials utilized an average of $6.4M each.
This information was made public on Thursday last, when the Auditor General’s report on national expenditure was made public.
Despite the glaring disparity between the levels of assistance provided to private individuals as against government officials, the Auditor General reported that relevant approvals for expenditure were presented for audit examination.
The Audit Office has since recommended that the Ministry formulate a policy with respect to the amount of medical help that should be granted to individual patients.

Former Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai

Among those ex-government officials who benefitted from government’s medical assistance set aside for the poor and vulnerable was former Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai.
Shortly before the May 11 General and Regional Elections, it was disclosed that Sukhai had several million dollars worth of work done to her teeth, an expense which was funded by the state using tax payers’ dollars.
She had defended the expenditure as an entitlement, a statement that led to much public outrage. The former Minister had also said that the information was confidential.
The report for the activities between 2012 and 2013 lists 942 persons from Regions 1 to 10 who received subsidized and full financial assistance for medical treatment.
Those persons received some $361.4M in assistance. Again, government officials received the lion’s share of the medical assistance programme.
It was also disclosed that ten cheques had been issued for some $4.2 in dental work.
Nine of those were for the former Minister of Amerindian Affairs Sukhai who utilized some $2.1M, the then Minister of Human Services Jennifer Webster used up $1.3M while the then Prime Minister Sam Hinds benefited from $28,240 and his wife Yvonne $788,880.
A total of $25,160 was paid for the other person who benefitted from dental assistance.
It was found too that the former Attorney General Anil Nandlall was also a beneficiary of the Government’s medical assistance scheme and it was reported that he racked up some $4.9M in medical expenses in September, 2012 in the United States.
Nandlall lists “medical support” as the diagnosis. He did claim to have repaid the money he received.
The former Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture Ali Baksh also received medical assistance for a coronary artery bypass at a cost of $12.2M. This is in addition to $249,600 for his airfare.
Former President Donald Ramotar had promised a review of the medical assistance policy. There is however no evidence that this policy review was ever implemented.

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....medical-aid-package/

The PNC did the same not too long ago.  They gave large contracts to contractors who blackmailed the PPP for more money.   Where is the change?

Did the PM receive any gift from his  former buddies?

the pnc thief so its okay for the ppp to thief u low life dog

In agreement to both posters.

I suspect nothing will be done until the new year, they'd like to have concrete evidence but far as I could see, they should start proceedings now, this will have those guys batty biting, they would then start squealing on each other.

BJ will be top squealer...he already started when he said he knew nothing of emails sent to him by Anil. hehehe

Is a real Good ting PPP lost.

This occured previous to May 2015 but still smells.

[File Photo]

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The 2014 Report of the Auditor General was on Thursday laid in the National Assembly and several instances of over-payments and breach of financial laws were laid bare.

 

In the report, it is stated that the Government for 2014, made over-payments of $237M to contractors for measure works.

This includes an over-payment of $13.5M for works on the construction of two bridges at Baishaidrun and Awarewaunau in region 9. The report stated that “up to the time of reporting, construction works had not commenced even though the contractors were paid since 2014.”

 

Twenty-two Ministries/departments breached the requirements of the Fiscal Management and accountability act, the report noted. Thirteen of the Ministries breached section 43 which stipulates that any monies that were not spent should be returned to the consolidated fund.

“These Ministries/Departments had not paid over amounts totaling $544M, of which the sum of $135M was related to 280 cheques still on hand; whilst the difference of $409M was held in four bank accounts.”

 

In addition, eight Ministries breached Section 80 of the Act, which dictates that Ministers present the Auditor General’s report to the Parliament no less than two months after receiving it.

 

This comes on the heels of revelations that over one billion dollars appear to have been siphoned off from the earnings of the Transport and Harbours Department under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration in the years 2003 – 2007.

 

Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson told the House that his predecessor failed to bring the reports to the House in fear of exposing the corruption.

 

http://www.inewsguyana.com/mil...2014-report-reveals/

2014 Auditor General Report …Over $100M remains unaccounted for on certain eco-tourism projects

Guyana’s Audit Office and even the former Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (renamed the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs) are yet to see a single piece of evidence to support the proper spending of over $100M on certain eco-tourism projects.
According to the Auditor General’s report for expenditure incurred last year, amounts totaling $119.505M were expended on projects relating to eco tourism such as three eco-lodges, two guest houses, one benab, upgrading of a waterfall, funding for a trail from Parabara to Kasikaitu and language revival programmes.
Also included in this amount were sums totaling $41M which were given to eleven Village Councils to undertake various community projects.
The Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, said that it could not be determined whether these projects were completed since no evidence was provided to demonstrate that these works were verified as completed by the Ministry.
Even the Ministry seems to be unaware of the status of these projects and what has really occurred with the moneys.
The Ministry’s Head of the Budget Agency explained to Sharma that the villages were informed to submit status reports on their specific projects within their communities.
It was noted, however, that the Ministry has not received any of these reports to date. Sharma stressed that the Ministry put measures in place where regular feedback and progress reports are received from the Amerindian Villages.

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....co-tourism-projects/

US$5M cleanup programme… Tens of million$ unaccounted for

• little evidence Guyana got value – Auditor General report
  

How the monies were supposed to have been spent, according to the 2014 Auditor General report.

Last year, the Donald Ramotar Government allocated $1B when it launched a countrywide cleanup programme. The exercise – cleaning of drains and cemeteries and host of other initiatives, was heavily hyped.

But State auditors, examining the expenditure, found little evidence that all the monies were spent and that Guyana received value for the tax dollars.

Heading the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development at the time was Minister Norman Whittaker.

The Auditor General’s report of last year’s National spending flagged the programme which is now under investigation.

According to the recently tabled report of the Audit Office for 2014, the full sum was said to have been expended. However, auditors were hard-pressed to find evidence of where some of the monies went.

“…Despite repeated requests, all payment vouchers together with the requisite supporting documents were not presented for audit verification,” the Audit Office noted.

As a matter of fact, amounts totalling $345M were expended on the acquisition of tools and equipment including tractor and trailers, mini excavators and skid steer loader.

According to the records kept at the Ministry, the tools were issued to various community groups to carry out the exercise and should have been returned at the completion.

However, audit checks revealed that both used and new tools were stored in the same area with no means of distinguishing the new from used.

In addition, these items were not properly stored to enable a physical verification.

“Further, Goods Received Notes and Internal Stores Requisitions were not prepared for the receipt and issue of these items. In view of the foregoing, we could not have verified whether all the items were received, properly brought to account, and whether proper control was exercised over their use,” the Auditor Office said.

Also included in the sum of $345M was a payment of $1M for one flatbed trailer. However, auditors discovered a cheque dated December 8, 2014, payable to Massy Industries Guyana Ltd still on hand at the Ministry in June 2015. The cheque had become stale-dated.

According to records, another sum for $303.7M was transferred to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Collin Croal, for the clean-up exercises in various communities.

However, only 46 payment vouchers amounting to $160M were submitted for audit.

“In the circumstance it could not be determined whether all the monies were spent for the purposes intended. It should be noted that these payment vouchers were still on hand at the Ministry, instead of being cleared at the Ministry of Finance,” the report said.

Further, audit checks on the 46 payments vouchers revealed that the supporting documents lacked evidence that the works were verified as satisfactorily completed.

In eight instances, the amounts stated on the supporting documents differed from the amounts on the payment vouchers and in three instances, receipts attached to payment vouchers stated that the monies were paid by a private individual instead of the Ministry.

In addition, the payee and the signatory on these receipts were the one and same person.

According to reports generated by Government’s central accounting system, Integrated Financial Management and Accounting System (IFMAS), the sum of $74M was recorded as expended on purchase of bins, barrels and garbage bags, etc.

“In the absence of the goods received notes, Internal Stores Requisitions and details of the location of these items, it was impossible to verify their existence, the auditors said in the report.

According to the Account Analysis Report, the sum of $36.79M was expended on trucking services rendered for the transporting and disposing of waste during the clean-up exercise. “However, there was no evidence to indicate that these disposals were monitored by the Ministry. As a result, it could not be determined whether value was received for the amounts expended.”

Another sum, $16.56M was recorded as expended on clean-up exercise undertaken in rural areas.

However, the State auditors said that the requisite payment vouchers and supporting documents were not presented and the propriety of the expenditure could not be determined.

An amount totaling $1.555M was expended on the purchase of fuel for the clean-up exercise. However, the auditors said, the Ministry did not adhere to the stores accounting process as required by existing stores regulations, in that no entry was made in the requisite stores records.

Officials, shortly after the David Granger administration took office in May, said they found the ministry’s boardroom in Kingston to be filled with materials for the cleanup.

The new government has launched a number of forensic audits into Government agencies and projects run by the former PPP/C-led administration.

The ministry has now been renamed the Ministry of Communities, and now includes the Ministry of Housing and Water.

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....ion-unaccounted-for/

What is the jail count so far?  Why aren't the perpetrators being jailed? The nation is waiting, also give us an update on the asset recovered so far not including the cars by Westford which was voluntary.