Audit Office submits 2023 AG report 1 week before statutory deadline

…2021 & 2022 assurance reports on GYEITI also issued

With a week to spare, the Audit Office of Guyana (AOG) on Monday handed over the Auditor General report into the 2023 fiscal year, leaving the ball in the proverbial court of the National Assembly as to when the report will be laid in the house.

The 2023 Auditor General Report, which was due by September 30, 2024, was handed over to Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir. The hand over occurred at the public buildings, marking the 20th time Auditor General Deodat Sharma has handed over of this report since he ascended to that post in 2005.
In addition to its being his 20th Auditor General report, Sharma explained that they have also issued 17 performance audit reports, including two that he also presented on Monday. According to him, the office has issued the 2021 and 2022 Assurance Reports of the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI). The Audit Act mandates that the Auditor General carries out performance audits.
“The Audit Act gives the Auditor General the mandate to carry out performance audits. We have so far issued 17 performance audit reports, which includes the two reports that I’m presenting today. We issued the 2021 and 2022 assurance reports of the Guyana Extractive Industries and Transparency Initiative, for which we were able to complete and issue to this entity,” Sharma said.
While the Auditor General Deodat Sharma was largely mum on what the public could expect from the report, since it only becomes a public document when laid in parliament, he did share a crucial observation. For years, the Audit Office has flagged overpayments being made by Ministries and regional offices, to employees and contractors alike.
According to Sharma, however, the report documents improvements in this regard, with all prior year overpayments being recovered. Meanwhile, the Speaker expressed hope that constitutional amendments could be made to expedite the time it takes the Audit Report to become a public document.
“Normally I don’t intend to say much, just accept the report, smile and congratulate you. And say I will lay it at the earliest opportunity. Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee speaks of the progressive nature of people.”
“I think we may have to have a constitutional amendment for tabling or releasing the report when it’s handed over. I don’t know how long the constitutional reform process will take,” Nadir said in his presentation.
The report was welcomed by members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), who were present, with PAC Chairman Jermaine Figueira and Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, commending the timely hand over of the report.
Following the consideration of the Auditor General’s report, followed by the PAC’s own report, the Government will have to submit a Treasury Memorandum. This includes a commitment, in writing, to either adopt or reject the AG’s many findings and recommendations.
Over the years, the Audit Office has been submitting its report by the statutory September 30 deadline following the close of the financial year. The last three reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022 were issued on September 19, 20 and 15, respectively. (G3)