Christopher Ram

Adding to its already long list of audits, Government has now indicated its intention to carry out an investigation into the operation of the Audit Office of Guyana.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee is seeking eligible and qualified chartered accountants to audit and report on the financial statements, account and other information relating to the performance of the Audit Office from 1 January, 2014 to 31 December 2014. This it says is in accordance with the audit act of 2004.

Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedures, specified in the Procurement Act 2003 and is open to all bidders.

Since its assumption to office just over six months ago, government has spent over $300 million on audits and Commissions of Inquiries (CoIs).

The breakdown of the estimated $300 million shows that the inquiry into the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), which consisted of 11 commissioners, cost the state $71 million.

Anand Goolsarran

Additionally, the forensic audits into about 30 government agencies will cost more than $50 million. According to information already existing in the public domain, government will be spending some $50 million to pay handpicked auditors Christopher Ram and Anand Goolsarran for their audits (additional benefits were excluded from this calculation).

Some of the CoIs launched are the Public Service, GuySuCo, Education, and Mining.