No health ministry minutes of ministerial tender meetings where contracts were awarded

Although its procurement practices have been the subject of recent concern, the Ministry of Public Health did not keep minutes of the Ministerial Tender Board meetings at which contracts were awarded.

This is according to the 2016 Auditor General Report. Auditor General Deodat Sharma noted that as a result of this failure, the basis of the award of contracts within the ministry could not be determined.

The Auditor General was also unable to verify the accuracy of four payments, totalling $104.5 million, for utility charges, due to the lack of supporting documentation, such as bills and receipts. Two of these payment related to electricity charges, while two related to water charges.