Ministers of Government have been attempting to clear their travel advances with the necessary officials  ever since the matter was highlighted in the media,  Auditor General (ag) Deodat Sharma says.

Asked if the latest Auditor General Report 2008 would be able to bring greater clarity to the ongoing controversy regarding travel on the public purse, Sharma said on Wednesday that while this is mentioned in the report it is not dealt with in an extensive manner. He also said that his office is not responsible for this issue.  Nevertheless, Sharma said that he is aware that since the matter has been highlighted in the media, government officials have moved to clear their advances with the Finance Ministry.  Sharma also told this newspaper that President Bharrat Jagdeo has cleared all his advances.

President Jagdeo on Friday told media operatives that he has directed Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh to write to those who have not cleared advances on their government-sponsored travel. Pointing out that when officials travel they have to clear their advances, Jagdeo said that there have been “quite a bit” of outstanding advances. “I said to the Minister of Finance to write the members who have not cleared their advances, to say to them that unless you clear your advances within a month that we are going to, we’re not going to ask anyone else, we are going to publish all the names in the newspapers,” said Jagdeo.

Jagdeo said about $200 million is spent annually on travel for the entire government. He noted too that the budget for this expenditure is held by the Accountant General.