Latest update March 24th, 2025 7:05 AM
Proposals from annual reports being applied, but slowly – Auditor General
Auditor General Deodat Sharma has assured that Government is implementing recommendations in the annual reports emanating from his office, but with the existing process the results are decidedly slow. And his advice for the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission to complement the Procurement Act and enable accountability is yet to materialize. Sharma maintains that this is a policy decision.
Auditor General Deodat Sharma
The Auditor General made these assertions yesterday during an interview with this publication at his Kingston office.
Sharma reminded that the Commission will enable independence and accountability, thus it is imperative that it should be established. He noted that in the absence of that body, Cabinet gives its no objection to large projects, which is not necessarily the preferred practice. However, when the Commission comes into existence Cabinet will no longer be involved in the procurement process.
The Auditor General Report 2011 stated, “The Audit Office recommends that every effort be made to have the Commission in place to ensure the independent, impartial and fair discharge of its functions in relation to procurement and the benefit to the Board of persons with expertise in procurement, legal, financial and administrative matters.”
The United States of America 2012 Human Rights Report made reference to the absence of the Public Procurement Commission and the fact that the effectiveness of the Audit Office remains limited since Government may or may not act on the discrepancies noted in its reports.
“Observers noted that recurring discrepancies were repeatedly highlighted in the reports without officials taking appropriate follow-up actions to investigate and resolve the discrepancies,” the report highlighted.
Avoiding direct comment on the US Report, Sharma said many persons may believe that Government is not acting on the recommendations, but this is not so.
“It might be slow, but there is a process in taking action,” he added.
He explained that the Audit Office compiles its report based on the expenditure of Government Ministries and Departments. The report is presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly where the members scrutinize the document and make recommendations. A report emanating from the PAC is laid in the National Assembly and Government compiles the Treasury Memorandum.
Nominees for the Public Procurement Commission have to be submitted to the PAC. The Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have submitted the names and résumés of their nominees to the PAC, while Government is yet to submit theirs, according to PAC Chairman, Carl Greenidge.
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