The Region Six Administration is still to recover overpayments totalling over $12 million for contracts awarded as far back as 2010 and overpaid net salaries, according to the 2017 Auditor General’s report.
The report, which was presented to the National Assembly several weeks ago, said that the Regional Administration is still to recover overpayments totalling $11.560 million made on seventeen contracts for the years 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2016. The contracts were listed.
For 2010, $160,000 is outstanding on a contract for the reconstruction of the Johanna/Yakusari High Bridge; $236,000 for the reconstruction of a timber revetment at Tain; $851,000 for the rehabilitation of Last Street, Canefield and $863,000 for the extension of a drugs bond at New Amsterdam.
For 2011, outstanding are $239,000 for the timber revetment at Orealla; $162,000 for the construction of a reinforced concrete bridge at Germania; $700,000 for the re-construction of a concrete bridge at Johanna; $3.561 million for the rehabilitation of Grant 1780 Second Cross Street; $85,000 for the rehabilitation of Canje Secondary School Phase; $214,000 for the Skeldon Line Path Secondary and $875,000 for the New Amsterdam Hospital Bond.
For 2013, $359,000 is still owed from the construction of Albion Front Nursery – Phase 2, while for 2016, $1.266 million is owed for contracts for the rehabilitation of No. 52 Cross Street; $1.093 million for the construction of Number 36 Primary School and $896,000 for the construction of an outpatient building at New Amsterdam.
The Head of the Budget Agency, according to the report, indicated that the efforts are continuing to ensure the sums overpaid are recovered.
It was recommended that efforts be made to recover the overpayments and that preventative steps are taken to avoid similar occurrences in the future.
Meanwhile, for the years 2012 to 2016, the report said, unpaid net salaries totalling $14.744 million were refunded to the Consolidated Fund, the report stated, while adding that amounts totalling $860,619 remained outstanding as overpaid net salaries. Related deductions totalling $221,835 paid over to the various agencies were also not recovered.
According to the report, 2014 has the highest outstanding net salary amount, which stands at $384,108. For 2012, $205,344 is outstanding; for 2015, $60,989 is still owed, while the recorded amount for 2016 is $210,181.
In response to the observations made, the region indicated to the audit office that both the former employees and agencies that were overpaid were written to in order to recover the amounts overpaid.
Auditor General Deodat Sharma has again recommended that the Regional Administration follow-up this matter with the relevant officers and agencies, with the view of recovering all amounts overpaid.
The report said too that 230 cheque orders, valued a total of $119.780 million, remained outstanding for the years 2010 to 2015.
In 2010 there were 63 cheque orders valued $20.3 million; in 2011, 34 valued $12.465 million; in 2012, 32 valued $29.073 million; in 2013, 72 valued $47.150 million; in 2014, 27 valued $10.109 million; and in 2015, 2 valued $683,000.
The Regional Administration, in response, explained that efforts will continue to clear all outstanding Cheque Orders. It was recommended that the Regional Administration ensure that Cheque Orders are cleared promptly.
