With some $6.5 million in advances still outstanding for the period 1997- 2009, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament yesterday ripped into the regional administration of Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) for its lackadaisical approach in addressing the issue.
Region Nine Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ronald Harsawack, who assumed the post in July 2010, led a small team yesterday which was questioned by the PAC. The PAC’s assertion that not enough was being done to address the matter appeared to be validated when Chairman of the PAC PNCR-1G MP Volda Lawrence noticed that one of the persons listed as owing the region was its current Assistant Field Auditor who was part of the team being questioned.
The PAC Chairman made the observation as she perused an updated report submitted by the region.
“This Lawrence Williams is the gentleman is front of us here?” Lawrence questioned.
Harsawack responded in the affirmative.
“You know you just sit down here and say oh these things go back since when. And you bring a man who owes money, who [is] indebted to the region sitting down right in front of us here?” Lawrence asked rhetorically.
Williams, according to the report, owed the region $60,000. When questioned about the money, Williams said he had cleared his advances but that he had to check with the clerk to see whether there was an error.
It was also noted that another person who reportedly failed to clear advances, is currently the REO of Region 10, Henry Rodney. Rodney and a team had appeared before the PAC shortly before the Region Nine team.
In 2009, an advance of $80,000 was granted to the former Superintendent of Works who is now in Region 6, and PPP/C MP Bibi Shadick urged that an effort be made to contact this official and if necessary have him surcharged. This individual, Harsawack said, has contended that he had submitted receipts related to air travel. However, the REO said these receipts have not been seen by him.
Meanwhile, PPP/C MP Indra Chandrapaul questioned the use of the Economic Fund from which the advances were paid. She asked why some of the advances were so small since they included amounts such as $400, $600 and $1,000.
Harsawack explained that whenever an expense arises that needs to be met urgently regional officials would go to the Economic Fund. According to him, these persons are supposed to provide receipts to the respective programme head who would reimburse the Economic Fund.
In response, Chandrapaul questioned whether the region needed to review this policy especially taking into consideration the small amounts.
Questioned as to what would be done to have the outstanding advances cleared, Harsawack said the region will make an effort to get the persons still within the region and government system to clear their advances within a month. He said the region will also attempt to contact the persons who do not fit into these categories and if possible, try to levy on their assets.
The PAC also urged the REO to update the list, since some of the persons owing money are deceased, and to present it in a more structured manner.
