Over 100 State-owned quarters being occupied in City without “official authorization”- Audit

Nov 07, 2018 News

The State has 300 buildings in Georgetown that are controlled by the Region Four Administration. The Auditor General has found several anomalies in relation to the way in which these buildings are being managed by the region.
In his latest report, Auditor General Deodat Sharma noted that circularized instructions state that for the occupation of Government Quarters, public servants are required to pay rent of 10 percent and 12 percent of their salary for unfurnished and furnished accommodation respectively, except where entitlement to rent-free Government Quarters had been previously approved, as a condition of service.
The Auditor General noted that of the 300 buildings controlled by the Regional Administration, 138 are apartments/living quarters and are occupied by various persons, of which only 18 are occupied by authorized persons.
In addition, Officers are only paying rent for eight apartments.
However, the Auditor General said that from the records presented for audit examination, it could not be determined whether those persons occupying rent-free quarters were entitled to such. This situation was previously reported on in the 2016 Auditor General’s Report.
The Region subsequently indicated that the staff members occupying the quarters rent-free are entitled, while the occupation of the other quarters are being investigated.
The Audit Office recommended that the Regional Administration take steps to ensure that only officers entitled to Government Quarters are accommodated there, and all outstanding amounts for rent are collected and deposited into the Consolidated Fund.

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