Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 09, 2018 News
Finance Minister Winston Jordan has submitted to Cabinet, Treasury Memoranda for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014. Members of the media were informed of this during a post-Cabinet press briefing that was hosted by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon yesterday.
Harmon said that Cabinet noted the efforts of the Finance Ministry to address the concerns of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which conducted an independent analysis of the financial transgressions documented in the Auditor General’s annual reports.
The Cabinet Secretary said that the Finance Ministry offered detailed responses for queries regarding every ministry and administrative region. He said that Cabinet also noted the conclusions of the Memoranda which stated that there was excessive waste, abuse and mismanagement of public resources. Harmon pointed out that there was also the lack of transparency, accountability and full compliance with the Audit Act, Procurement Act and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act during the years 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The State Minister said, “I understand it to be one of the most detailed responses by the government in over 25 years to a list of queries by the Public Accounts Committee. My understanding is that responses in the past were about two pages and these today are 10 to 12 pages responding to the queries.”
The Cabinet Secretary said that the documents will be laid in the National Assembly soon, and members of the media will have an opportunity to examine the extent to which the Ministry of Finance responded to the PAC’s queries.
PREVIOUS REPORTS
The Treasury Memoranda released by the Finance Ministry for the years 2010 and 2011 also speak to financial mismanagement which took place during the era of the PPP.
To address issues of overpayments, the coalition administration took a decision to have the names of delinquent financial officers published in the Auditor General’s annual reports as well as have them surcharged for said overpayments they signed off on for contracts.
The Government said it remains cognizant of the need to improve the procurement practices, with a view to having value for money.
It said, “Government has apprised Heads of Budget Agencies of the Auditor General’s concerns and has invited the Auditor General, as an advisor, to its meeting with the Heads of Budget Agencies, at which he reiterated his concerns. Circulars have been issued to instruct Heads to refrain from such practices if they do, and to inform them that not doing so would be in violation of Sections 10, 15 and 85 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act.”
The Government said that it continues to take such violations seriously, and has taken other measures to address the matter. It noted that it will continue to monitor continuously, contracts across agencies as well as the unmitigated resoluteness by the PAC when dealing with agencies that did not set up procedures in the execution of contractual works.
The Government also intends to hold meetings involving PAC, the Finance Secretary, Accountant General and the Auditor General with a view to discussing and arriving at decisive strategies aimed at enforcing protection mechanisms as well as the institution of disciplinary action against defaulters.
There will also be employed engineers and established field audits to give the necessary technical capabilities and oversight. Officers will also be required to give detailed reports when signing off on works. These reports are now expected to include photographic evidence before, during and on completion of projects.
Government has also moved towards the development and implementation of a policy intended to address the prompt application of insurance and performance bonds.
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