Latest update May 14th, 2026 12:35 AM
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Forensic audit report…No qualifications on file for MMA/ADA
Gen. Manager, other top officials
A forensic audit conducted into the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) has revealed several unsettling findings with its employee database.
MMA/ADA General Manager Aubrey Charles
The auditor, Ramesh Lal, a Managing Partner of TSD Lal and Company, noted that requisite qualifications could not be found for the Authority’s incumbent General Manager, Aubrey Charles.
All the auditor could verify was that Charles had some experience as a surveyor.
Also flagged was the agency’s Administrative Manager, Bernadette Petterkin; Chairman of the Authority’s Board of Directors, Rudolph Gajraj and Hansraj Bishram, a mechanic. For them, the auditor could find no evidence of their competence in their files to justify the jobs they held.
The auditor was able to verify the competence of individuals such as Mahendranauth Ramjit, Manager in charge of Drainage and Irrigation. According to the auditor, Ramjit possessed qualifications in Technology and Civil Engineering, in addition to working for some six years as an engineer.
Finance Manager Simone Edwards was shown to have Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) qualifications and experience as an Assistant Supervisor.
However, in one instance the Manager of Land and Surveys for MMA/ADA, Kawall Bharat, was red flagged for having a Diploma in Land Surveying but no experience. The Authority’s Mechanical Manager, Shilendra Singh, was shown to have no formal qualifications but six years of work experience as a mechanic.
There were two cases where other officials in critical positions- William Ross, Manager of the Information Technology (IT) section and Godfrey Woodroffe, Senior Supervisor, were qualified. Ross had a Degree in Computer Science while Woodroffe had qualifications in Mechanical Engineering. Neither, however, had any experience recorded on file.
Implications
“No evaluation system was in place, thus, appointments may be biased,” the auditor noted. “Some positions were held without staff being qualified and/or experienced. This revealed severe deficiencies in the administrative and human resources function.”
The auditor stated that because of this situation, he was unable to ascertain whether the controls governing hiring and promoting staff were operating effectively. The auditor also stated that many of the personal files did not contain integral information such as employment contracts, approved increases in salaries and approval for promotions.
Recommendation
The auditor recommended that the employee files be updated with these items, including an evaluation of the employees’ personal performance. This, he said, was so that their competence could be assessed in relation to their positions.
To the auditor’s observations, MMA/ADA management could only respond that its Human Resources personnel were directed to ensure that all personal files were updated.
Management also stated that the MMA/ADA Board was looking at putting systems in place for staff evaluation exercises. The management then went on to dispute the auditor’s observations, stating that files are in place for all employees and are available for the Auditor to check.
Agency’s scope
Formed in 1978, the MMA/ADA is a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Agriculture. It not only manages, operates and maintains drainage and irrigation works in Region Five, but it also bears responsibility for state lands allocated between the Berbice and Mahaica rivers.
A testament to this agency’s strategic importance is the fact that the Region it supports is responsible for nearly half of the Guyana’s rice production, 30 to 35 percent of livestock production and a quarter of national sugar production.
From this years’ budget, the Authority was allocated $237M under the Ministry of Agriculture.
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