Accountability Watch

Last week, we discussed the financial accountability of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), which is in a complete state of disarray.

The year 2013 was not a particularly good one for governance, transparency and accountability.

Last Thursday, the National Assembly adjourned for six months the debate on a bill to amend Public Procurement Act to reinstate Cabinet’s role in the awarding of public contracts.

Last week, we discussed a number of issues relating to the five per cent increase for public servants, arbitrarily agreed upon by the Government after talks broke down with the Guyana Public Service Union.

On 20 November 2013, the Government announced a five per cent increase in wages and salaries for public servants, retroactive to January 2013.

Last Monday, we began an examination of the three financial papers that the Minister of Finance presented to the National Assembly seeking approval by way of supplementary provision in the sum of $12.385 billion.

Last week, we concluded our discussion of the Enron accounting scandal.

Two weeks ago, we discussed the issue of conflict of interest.

Part II   Last week, we examined the accountability arrangements of all statutory bodies, especially as regards compliance with the Fiscal Management and Accounta-bility (FMA) Act.

The issue of conflict of interest has been in the news over the last few weeks, especially in the light of the disclosure by one of the media houses that the Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman is also the Company Secretary of the Amaila Falls Hydro Inc.,

Over the last few weeks, a number of concerns were expressed that raising the ceiling for Government guarantees of loans to public entities has the effect of increasing the public debt.

Two weeks ago, we began an examination of the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption (IACAC) which was signed on 29 March 1996 and which came into force on 6 March 1997. 

Since my article of 5 August on the Amaila Falls Project, a number of important developments took place.

Last week, we began a discussion of the Amaila Hydropower Project in the light of the National Assembly’s rejection of: (a) the proposed amendment to the Hydro Electric Act mainly to protect the surrounding areas; and (b) the motion to lift the ceiling for Government’s guarantee of loans to public corporations and companies.

A historical perspective and the challenges ahead (Part II) Last week, we began a discussion of organizational management because of its relevance to both the public and private sectors but more especially in the light of the myriad of problems facing a number of state institutions. 

Consider the following newspaper headlines: “PM says GPL commercial losses embarrassing”; “Power company forecasts $11B shortfall this year”; “Chand urges expert help to save sugar industry”; and “Sugar industry turnaround ‘far from reality’”.

During the last two weeks, we suspended our review of the UN Convention Against Corruption to look at the operations of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

Last week, we commenced reviewing the operations of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) in the light of its disastrous performance over the years, despite the massive subsidies and capital contributions from the Treasury.

I was prompted to write this article because of my dismay at news reports about the salaries/fees payable to the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and the Chairmen of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO), in the light of the disastrous performance of these state-owned entities over the years.

Two weeks ago, we began our discussion of the UN Convention Against Corruption that Member States adopted in December 2003.