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Auditor General presents 2014 report to House Speaker

Oct 01, 2015 News

  • Set to improve public accountability

 

In the nick of time, Auditor General (AG), Deodat Sharma, yesterday handed over the 2014 AG Report to Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland. It is hoped that with the new report will come improved governance, transparency and public accountability.

The report was presented in Parliament Building during a simple handing over ceremony. With yesterday being the last day of September, Sharma barely managed to present the report within the stipulated time frame. The Audit Act of 2004 mandates that the report be completed by the ninth month (September) of each year.

During yesterday’s ceremony, Dr. Scotland noted that the creation and presentation of the report went to “the very heart of governance”.

“…The very heart of the work which we’ve all undertaken to do as Members of Parliament dealing with the Auditor General. And he then passes on our behaviour to the nation… It’s very good to know that we’re constantly trying to improve the manner in which we deal with the national accounts.”

Sharma said that the statutory deadline had been met with the last five reports. This new report similarly met the deadline, he said.

He said that this was in keeping with the AG’s Mission Statement to provide timely reporting of the results of the legislature to the public. He stressed that the achievement would not have been possible without the continued and relentless commitment from his staff.

Additionally, he thanked the staff of the Ministry of Finance, the Accountant General, and all the other accounting officers who responded openly to queries within the stipulated time frame.

According to Sharma, the new report is the 11th AG report presented. He further advised that the report should be laid in the National Assembly as soon as possible.

In response, Dr. Scotland noted that Parliament will resume on October 15. He said, “I’m certain that shortly thereafter that these accounts will be laid as is required and to satisfy the requirements under the constitution.”

The report was presented in accordance with Article 222:3 of the Constitution. The report is a compilation of the audited financial records on the public accounts of Guyana and the accounts of ministries, departments and regions. For the 2014 fiscal year, the reporting period ran until December 31, 2014.

After the report is laid in Parliament, it will be handed to the new Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC); People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament, Irfaan Ali. The PAC is responsible for examining the contents of the AG Report before summoning various state agencies to appear before it.

During these appearances, the agencies must respond to queries and issues flagged by the AG in his report.

The PAC will comprise of MPs from the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government and the Opposition, PPP.

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