CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Allan Johnson and Finance Director, Ronald Charles, were on Monday asked to leave the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting after they were unprepared to answer questions posed.

The duo came under severe scrutiny by PAC Chairman, Irfaan Ali and member Juan Edghill. The CEO arrived at the meeting with one supporting staff and was thoroughly grilled by the PAC on the non-submission of financial statements for 2015 and 2016, the non-refund of monies to Consolidated Fund among other areas.

It was during the intense questioning by PAC member, Juan Edghill, that Charles said he was not “fully” the Finance Director. It was this response which saw Edghill, a former junior Minister of Finance, alleging that both Charles and Johnson were “deliberate” in their efforts not to provide the PAC with answers to questions asked and were “working on instructions”.

It was observed that in 2015 GPHC continued to budget for as an Agency and prepared Appropriation Accounts until September 1, 2015 when the Corporation started receiving subvention from the Ministry of Public Health, and commenced operating and maintaining its own accounting systems and records.

Additionally, in accordance with Sections 48 and 64, under the Public Corporations Act, GPHC is required to produce audited account. This was not done. When questioned on the status of the accounts, CEO Johnson said a work plan is in place to finish the accounts in September. He said too that the Corporation is in the process of hiring a fixed assets evaluator, who will assist in getting the accounts together.

He admitted that no financial statements were submitted and when asked by PAC chair, Irfaan Ali if anybody has been sanctioned, Johnson said no action has been taken against officers in this regard. “I am going to write the Finance Director and then proceed from there,” said the GPHC CEO, causing Edghill to erupt. “Mr Chair, this is an audit finding that has been available through the accounting officer for several months, he is going to come to PAC this morning to tell us he is going to now write the Finance Director to find out why this didn’t happen.”

He questioned: “Is this not submitting financial statements allowing GPHC to keep monies not spent in their account, rather than returning it to the Consolidated Fund?” Johnson in response said all funds were returned to the government of Guyana, a statement which contradicted statements within the Audit report. This prompted Ali to request evidence of same.

“Do you have evidence, supporting documentation to show that money was paid back to the Consolidated Fund at the end of 2015 and 2016?” asked the PAC Chair. Ali was unable to receive a response from Johnson who requested time to submit the answer later. But PAC member Edghill found the response of the GPHC CEO to be ludicrous and raised his objection. “Mr Chair if the GPHC did not present their financial records how was the closing balance at the end of the year and the opening balance at the beginning of the year, determined?” asked Edghill. But before Johnson could respond, Ali informed him of his attempt to mislead the PAC based on information in his possession.

But it was Finance Director Charles in an attempt to save face, who said that “all the funds for 2015…were sorted out and returned. For 2016 now, as far as I am aware there is still some money outstanding, but I have to clarify that.” “Are you the Finance Director? Asked Ali, as frustration mounted at the meeting, to which Charles responded, “Not for finance per se…” Johnson then noted that Charles’ predecessor was responsible for finances and Charles was responsible only for procurement.

Johnson said that the substantive Finance Director reported sick last week. It was at this point that the PAC Chairman asked the duo to leave the meeting as they were unprepared to provide answers to questions posed by the Committee. He instructed the men to return when they have all the answers to questions posed, as well as supporting staff. But the Chairman’s decision appeared insufficient for Edghill, who stressed that it appeared a deliberate attempt by the duo to withhold information and frustrate the PAC. He also accused Johnson of being disrespectful to the PAC by only having one staff member, who was clearly uninformed.

“This behaviour will not be tolerated… We will not allow you to waste PAC time and you Mr. CEO seem to be all cool about this,” a frustrated Ali added, while stating it was not the first time Johnson appeared before the PAC and ought to have known that he should have been accompanied by staff who are equipped to answer the questions of the body. As both the CEO and Charles were exiting the Parliament Chambers, Edghill shouted, “You should hang your head in shame. Any CEO worth his salt would have come here with a proper team… and you are being rude!” His utterance angered Johnson who stopped and blurted out, “I am a big man and you’re telling me I am rude!” before exiting the Chambers.