The Auditor General yesterday submitted his report for 2023 on the public accounts to the National Assembly and APNU+AFC MP Jermaine Figueira has called for its immediate release.
This marks the fourth year in a row that the report has been delivered ahead of the September 30 deadline. Auditor General Deodat Sharma made the point during the handover ceremony of the report at Parliament Chambers, Public Buildings. The past three reports were delivered on the 20th, 19th and 15th of September in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
In addition to the annual report, Sharma revealed that the Audit Office is currently conducting special audits related to the supply of crusher run and the issuance of Old Age Pension and Public Assistance booklets. He also highlighted that his Office has completed 17 Performance Audit Reports, including two presented yesterday: one on the Management of Maternal Health Care Services at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and another on the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network programme.
Sharma emphasized the importance of training and capacity building within his office, noting that support from the Canadian Aid and Accountability Foundation (CAAF) has played a crucial role. He said that 28 officers have undergone training in interviewing skills, while 19 have completed leadership training. Two officers are set to attend the Emerging Leaders programme in Ottawa later this month. Additionally, a workshop on auditing the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) involved 27 participants from the Ministry of Finance.
Jennifer Trotman, the Accountant General, commended the Audit Office for its timely submission, crediting the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General’s Department, which met its own deadline of April 30.
Figueira, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and Member of Parliament, advocated for the public release of the Auditor General’s report prior to its formal tabling in the National Assembly. He called for increased meetings to ensure the Public Accounts Committee stays updated with the Audit Office’s findings.
Manzoor Nadir, Speaker of the National Assembly, praised the Auditor General for the timely report and suggested that constitutional reforms may be necessary to facilitate Figueira’s call for the immediate sharing of the report upon submission.
Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works and member of the Public Accounts Committee, highlighted the significance of an independent auditing body in maintaining government accountability. He reiterated that the Public Accounts Committee, of which he is a member, will meticulously analyze the report.
