With the Auditor General’s report for 2018 being handed over amid political uncertainty regarding sittings of the National Assembly, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) members are urging that the parliamentary Opposition’s absence not be used as an excuse to duck the report.
The report was handed over on Monday by Auditor General Deodat Sharma, to Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland. In handing over the report, Sharma had urged the Speaker to ensure that it was laid in the National Assembly as soon as possible.
Afterwards, Member of Parliament (MP) Juan Edghill reiterated that the People’s Progressive Party will not be returning to Parliament. However, he stressed the need to have the report released to MPs and the media, whether the Opposition is in Parliament or not.
“In the absence of a sitting of the National Assembly and where we in the parliamentary Opposition do not envisage any sittings that we will participate in, because in our view the Parliament has expired, we would like to ensure that this report is not ducked and hidden for the next five months, where the country will be kept in suspense as to its contents.”
“You are aware that over the years, the parliamentary Opposition has been indicating matters of serious concern as it relates to corruption, maladministration, mismanagement and misuse of public funds in a number of sectors,” Edghill said.
Here he cited the D’Urban Park Project, for which millions could not be accounted for. Funding for the D’Urban Park Project has always been a contentious issue, with money from the Lotto Fund being used by the APNU/AFC Government for the project.
In his 2015 report, the AG had listed some $36.5 million in Lotto Funds being used for rehabilitative works. As a consequence, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman, Irfaan Ali had previously requested that further probing be done by the Auditor General. Ali had stated that these requests were in relation to follow-ups from the findings that had been included in the AG’s 2015 Report.
In his 2015 report, the Auditor General had said that following checks on the accounts, it was found that while Government transferred $1 billion of the Lotto money to the Consolidated Fund in 2015, it held onto just over half a billion dollars to remain under the control of the Ministry of the Presidency and it spent $305 million on various activities.
But the audit into the D’Urban Park Project has always been hindered by a lack of access to pertinent information, with the Audit Office being forced to write to the Public Infrastructure Ministry requesting documents.
Current illegal spending
Edghill’s view was also expressed by fellow Public Accounts Committee member and parliamentarian, Nigel Dharamlall. Additionally, Dharamlall noted that the Auditor General could monitor illegal spending on a current basis.
“In terms of 2019, we are in a year of unconstitutional rule, by the Granger Government. And we feel the Audit Office should pay keen attention. We have said that we would not return to Parliament to extend the life of the Government, because that would give life to their illegitimate rule.”
“So all of their spending beyond March 21 would be considered illegal. And we expect the audit report would in some way address the concerns of the Opposition and the Public Accounts Committee and the general public at large,” Dharamlall said.
President David Granger, during an address to the nation last week, had announced that Parliament would reconvene on October 10. It will be without the Opposition, however, as they have staunchly ref
