OLPF Project suffered grave management issues –Forensic audit report

Jun 12, 2016 News

As if the financial weaknesses associated with the One Laptop Per Family Project (OLPF) weren’t horrible enough, forensic auditors have identified that the initiative also suffered from grave management issues.
Auditors attached to Ram and McRae, Chartered Accountants said in a detailed report that several key positions for the project were handed to individuals who were not competent or qualified enough to hold the positions.
In this regard, the auditors said that the senior accounting position in the Project was held by Darshani Nandkisore. She was hired on February 1, 2012 at a monthly basic salary of $200,000. The auditors said that Nandkisore’s principal qualification is the Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) examination. They said however that this is not a professional examination and would not ordinarily equip its holder for the position of Accounts Manager.
The Ram and McRae auditors said that it is likely that the failure to employ a suitably qualified person may have been responsible for the inadequate internal controls within the Project.
Additionally, the auditors said that Abdalla Hamilton was hired as the Project’s warehouse manager. His basic monthly salary was $150,000 through the period of his employment, which spanned from January 1, 2012 to July 31, 2015.
The forensic auditors said that a review of Hamilton’s personal file revealed that his academic qualifications were certificates in AutoCAD and Advanced AutoCAD. AutoCAD is a computer aided drafting software programme used for creating blueprints for buildings, bridges and computer chips.
The auditors said that AutoCAD is used mainly by drafters, although engineers, surveyors and architects may need to use the software from time to time.
The Ram and McRae auditors said that it does not appear that Hamilton possessed the necessary qualifications to function as Warehouse Manager. The auditors said that it is important to note that Hamilton is the son of former PPP Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Health, Mr. Joseph Hamilton.
The One Laptop per Family (OLPF) Project was a national initiative aimed at bridging the digital gap, by providing access to information technology, the internet, training and skills development to families across Guyana, which will enable citizens to become part of the global information and knowledge network.
It was officially launched on January 21, 2011 at the Guyana International Conference Centre. The Project was introduced by the then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, who mentioned that “the objective of the venture is to enhance Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and create opportunities for the beneficiaries of the laptops.”
Based on statements made by Mr. Jagdeo during the Project’s launch, the Government of Guyana had initially planned to acquire and distribute a total of 90,000 laptops to low income families in Guyana.
However, the Project acquired only 55,145 laptops, of which 50,009 were distributed.

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OLPF Project suffered grave management issues –Forensic audit report

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