-As region gets higher value of drugs than they warranted

THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has asked Finance Secretary Hector Butts, to examine the drug procurement documents submitted by the regional administration of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), given that the region received a higher value of medical drugs than what was warranted from the Ministry of Public Health.

Regional Executive Officer (REO) of the region, Ovid Morrison, in response to questions during a PAC meeting on Monday, said the region had warranted $135 million for drugs in 2016 but received $154 million instead.

Morrison admitted that he did not enquire why they received a higher value in drugs but directed the PAC to the ministry for answers.
After almost an hour of back and forth between the PAC and the region, PAC Chairman Irfan Ali, after consulting with the advisors and members of the body decided that the Finance Secretary will examine the facts surrounding the issue and take necessary administrative actions that are provided for under the law.

“We sent this region away before for specific issues, and asked the Finance Secretary, the Auditor General and Accountant General to do specific things and after a meeting with the REO, the Accountant General had indicated to the region what must be done and it has not been done,” said Ali.

In addition, the Auditor General Deodat Sharma had written a letter to the REO on May 22, 2018, asking for information to be submitted for auditing purposes, but the AG was denied access to the information.
“You were sent away to get the information after consultation with the PAC ,but we are of the view that you have not made any attempt to correct your ways or to be prepared for us,” the chairman lamented.

He expressed the PAC’s dissatisfaction in the response from, and performance of the region but noted that the committee would not be able to continue the examination of the region until the finance Secretary completes his task.

“I can’t say it wasn’t a decision that the Chairman is aware of, since the letter he referred to was seeking documentation for audit for the year 2017; as a result I had requested that they give me time for the document to be submitted,” said the REO on the sideline of the PAC meeting.

Morrison said he had written to the Auditor General, informing him that the document would be submitted by June 15, 2018 and it was done.
Asked if he was dissatisfied with the decision of the PAC, he said that he has respect for the committee and would not comment unless he is certain that the right information was filtered to the PAC.