THE 2013 audited report on Government’s accounts was presented to Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Raphael Trotman, by Auditor General Mr. Deodat Sharma, Tuesday.

Sharma stressed that the review of the report, which will be done by the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), provides an opportunity for taxpayers to assess the value of their tax dollars.
“This is a great opportunity for citizens to hear if their tax dollars are spent in accordance with the Estimates and all monies have been applied to the purpose or purposes for which they were intended, and in accordance with the required regulations, procedures and policies,” Sharma said.
The Auditor General highlighted that in addition to being able to complete the 2013 report; his office was also able to record several other successes, including: increasing technical competencies, infrastructural improvements in the Information Technology (IT) department, and enhancement of the office’s human resource capacity, among others.

“These improvements would not have been possible without the continued support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); Canadian Executive Services Organisation (CESO); the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and the Government of Guyana.
Guyana’s Audit Office is part of the Caribbean Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (CAROSAI), with which it is partnering to roll out a cooperative audit of the respective revenue agencies.
“We aim to continue improving our services,” Sharma said.
Additionally, he stated that the audit of the accounts of his office have been completed for 2013 by an independent auditor.
The 2013 report on Government’s accounts was presented in the constitutionally stipulated timeframe, as set out in Article 223 of the Constitution.
“We have met the statutory deadline for the five most recent reports, which include the one being presented today (Tuesday)…this is [in] keeping with our mission statement goal, which is to provide ‘Timely reporting of the results to the legislature and ultimately the public’,” he said.
To this end, he expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Finance, the Accountant General and all accounting officers who responded to queries in a timely manner.
The Speaker, who accepted the 2013 report; reiterated similar sentiments and lauded the timely completion of the report. “We recognise your effort and we appreciate all your work,” he said.
Mr. Trotman underscored the fact that the report is part of the wider financial accountability framework, a framework within which the National Assembly plays a key role.
On that note, he acknowledged the need for the National Assembly to be equipped with a Budget Office, as well as a Legal Department.
Government Member of Parliament (MP) and member of the PAC, Mr. Manzoor Nadir, also made briefs remarks, in which he endorsed the work of the Auditor General’s office.
He recognised the improved quality of work at the Office, but also stated that there is further room for improvements to be made.
The MP pointed out that it was under the ruling party, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), that the work of the Auditor General’s Office was encouraged, funded and further supported.
Nadir also committed the PAC to working, in its review of the 2013 report, with the principles of transparency, accountability and value for money as its watchwords.

TRANSPARENCY

The Auditor General’s report is in keeping with Government’s commitment to ensure transparent and democratic governance and is testimony to the transparency and accountability which have developed over the years in relation to the public accounts of Guyana. The report includes Government’s spending for its various ministries and agencies.

Before the Office of the Auditor General was reformed, the report was formally handed to the Minister of Finance. Now under new constitutional arrangements, it is delivered to the Speaker of the National Assembly who takes charge of it.

The report is then sent to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is headed by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Carl Greenidge, after which it is scrutinised and then presented to Parliament.
Under this new process, the PAC has the authority to summon Ministers and other officials to provide explanations and information should they find discrepancies in the utilisation of public funds, following which corrective actions are taken.
The Audit Office has undergone significant changes over the years to strengthen its capacity to ensure improved auditing. This was supported by the International Development Bank (IDB), Canada and India with contributions that assisted the office to maintain its commitment to transparency.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Auditor General is observing its 130th year of existence. The Office has since seen the appointment of three Auditor Generals posted at a variety of locations before the current one in High Street, Kingston where Sharma heads the entity.
Plans for the future include improving the services of the office through the use of information technology and the assistance of the IDB is being sought in this regard.