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Audit Office still investigating NDIA fraud allegations
Investigations into fraud allegations at the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) are still ongoing, despite indications by Auditor General Deodat Sharma that the Audit Office was wrapping up investigations in March, last.
According to Sharma, the Audit Office has completed its first interview with NDIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Lionel Wordsworth, one of the two persons against whom allegations were made. The Office has to conduct another interview with Wordsworth and look at other details before concluding the probe.
Auditor General Deodat Sharma
In October 2012, a report prepared by a Field Auditor recommended the immediate dismissals of Wordsworth and Senior Engineer Aneel Chowbay. It claimed several instances of fraud and conflict of interest. The report was leaked to the media.
The report on fuel consumption and equipment operations and maintenance, was conducted between May and September 2012. It was completed and submitted to the Chairman of NDIA Board of Directors Dharamkumar Seeraj on September 26, and carbon copied to President Donald Ramotar.
In an interview with Kaieteur News, Seeraj had confirmed that there were procedural breaches at the entity. Even before documents were sent to the Audit Office to be investigated, Sharma began his own probe.
In March, Sharma said findings of the investigations would have been concluded, but that did not occur. Apparently, the probe took into consideration the death of a close relative of Wordsworth and his visit to India for NDIA.
Yesterday Sharma admitted that the investigations are taking a while to conclude and the precise conclusion date is unknown, since the Audit Office has more work to do.
Previously, Sharma said the Audit Office was conducting a comprehensive probe into NDIA and the findings would assist with the compilation of the Audit Office’s report on the entity in its 2012 report.
It is likely that the investigations would be completed during this month since the Audit Office has to complete checks of operations of Government Ministries and State agencies to present its 2012 report to Parliament in September.
The Audit Act provides that the Head of the Budget agency be presented with a draft report including findings and recommendations. In turn, the Auditor General is provided with a written response within 30 days and it shall be included in the report before being presented to the National Assembly.
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