Govt raps sensationalising of AG report in media

The Government of Guyana on Wednesday in a press statement rapped what it called attempts by some sections of the media to sensationalise selected parts of the Auditor General (AG)’s report that was released on Monday, November 3, 2025.
The statement reminded that the PPP/C Government reintroduced AG reports from 1993 and has consistently worked with the AG to ensure that these reports are completed and presented to the National Assembly on or before the statutory deadline.
Prior to the PPP/C assuming office in 1992, the PNC had failed to present the AG reports for 10 years, from 1982 to 1992, denying citizens the opportunity to know how their tax dollars were spent, it added.
Recognising that the AG’s report is a vital instrument of transparency, accountability, and public trust, successive PPP/C Governments have consistently provided the AG and his staff with all the support necessary to fulfil their statutory mandate, the statement said.
In this regard, the accounting officers have not only responded to queries from the AG but have also taken concrete steps to improve accountability and transparency by implementing the recommendations in his report. Between 2022 and 2024, the implementation rate of recommendations has been the highest in over a decade. In the 2024 AG Report, for example, the Government has implemented (either fully or partially) more than 80 per cent of the recommendations made in the previous year’s report.
The statement also noted that the govt has also strengthened its system to prevent overpayments and has recovered these funds. Over the past three years, all contractor overpayments have been fully recovered – an unprecedented achievement, it emphasised.
The brief went on to state that because of the implementation of the recommendations in the audit report, the number and severity of breaches have also reduced markedly. More importantly, these efforts demonstrate this Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in public financial management, as well as to the rule of law.
“Another notable achievement, which was reported by the auditor in his 2024 report but conveniently ignored by some media houses, is that the total number of audit opinions issued during the period September 2024 to August 2025 amounted to 254, which is unprecedented, and covered various agencies, including public enterprises, statutory bodies, trade unions, foreign-funded projects, municipalities, neighbourhood democratic councils, and constitutional agencies,” it pointed out.
According to the statement, responsible reporting will provide context when referencing the findings of the AG’s Report. Any objective assessment would therefore acknowledge the substantial progress that has been made. Instead, it contended, “We have seen selective reporting by some sections of the media intended to create mischief.”