Audit into UG’s finances to begin in 2 weeks – Auditor General

In light of the request recently made by the Education Ministry to have a special audit into the finances of the University of Guyana (UG), the Auditor General’s Office has already commenced the preparation stages to kick-start that process.
This is according to Guyana’s Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, who told Guyana Times in an interview on Saturday that the “groundwork” will commence shortly.
“We [Audit Office] were contacted and are planning to go in and start the special audit quite soon. I have contracted an auditor, outside of my office, who does work there, contracting an auditor [is] what is usually done by my office. I asked him to complete a Terms of Reference for this, this is in addition to the normal audit that takes place,” Sharma explained.

Vice Chancellor of UG, Professor Ivelaw Griffith

The Auditor General noted that the Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry had officially written to him, requesting this special audit, but before his Office could begin its work, the necessary meeting had to take place.
“Meetings were held with the Education Ministry officials, of course, they had to be held first so that we could be briefed.
Then there were meetings with the Unions from UG but I am not at liberty to discuss what transpired in those meetings.
However, what I can say is that I am hoping to go into UG to start the special audit within two weeks from now.”
The request for the special audit came in light of an appeal made to the Ministry by the two workers’ unions at UG.
However, the administration of the University on Thursday said such a move is welcomed so as to clear up any misinformation about the present financial state of UG.

Auditor General of Guyana, Deodat Sharma

“The administration welcomes the opportunity to clear the air on the allegations and assertions by the Unions and other individuals…We have long indicated such, both directly to the UG Unions and in my two recent memoranda to the University Community,” said Vice-Chancellor of UG, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, in the release.
The request made by the two Unions to the Education Ministry birthed from the fact that UG’s administration, in January of this year, stated that the institution was not in a position to pay further salary increases for 2018, having paid a four per cent salary increase to academic staff and three per cent to non-academic staff, both tax-free, in December 2018.
On February 13, 2019, in an update to the members of the UG Community on the industrial climate at Turkeyen and the call by the Unions for a forensic financial audit, the Vice-Chancellor noted that the administration is willing to have its financial position examined by any competent and independent auditor.
Meanwhile, UG’s administration was accused of wanton spending, including hosting several events and standing the expenses of meals and accommodation for guest speakers.