Dear Editor,
I refer to yesterday’s news item in SN which indicates the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana (ICAG) has written to Mr Carl Greenidge, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, requesting certain information regarding allegations of conflict of interest involving the Minister of Finance and his wife in her capacity as Audit Director in the Audit Office. It will be recalled that Mr Greenidge had written the ICAG for an opinion on the matter.
Without seeking to cast aspersions on my professional colleagues in the Disciplinary Committee of the ICAG, I respectfully wish to suggest that any member of this committee who is currently the beneficiary of a contract(s) awarded by the Audit Office, exclude himself/herself from the committee hearing the matter. In this regard, the ICAG may wish to consider reconstituting the committee, as a one off exercise, to include only Chartered Accountants who are not in public practice.
This is my well considered view which I feel obliged to state, despite the risk of being publicly criticised and/or ridiculed.
Yours faithfully,
Anand Goolsarran