–to ascertain whether breach in procurement process occurred repeatedly
–officers must be held accountable, Edghill says

MINISTER of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, following revelations of discrepancies in the procurement process in Region Five under the APNU+AFC government in 2019, has called for a special audit to be conducted concerning the procurement of drugs and medical supplies for the region.

The minister made the request during a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, after examining the 2019 Auditor-General’s report for Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), which revealed that some 31 payment vouchers amounting to $3.8 million, had bill dates before the requisition to purchase date.

She indicated: “I asked for a special audit of the procurement of all drugs and medical supplies in the region to find out if the 31 instances are an anomaly, or whether this was a practice in the region.”

As further details came out, she noted that it appeared as though there were no proper systems in the region with regards to procurement, and as such noted that the highlighted issue is clear violation of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA).

Minister of Public Works and member of the PAC, Bishop Juan Edghill said that the committee is examining systems and possible breaches.

“The issue here and when we examine a case like this, it’s not just about making a big fuss about something that happened, but at the same time the REO (Regional Executive Officer), who is sitting here, and all other public officers who listen to the PAC must know that these are things they must pay attention to, and it must not recur,” Edghill said.

Further, Chairman of the Committee Jermaine Figueira guided the Auditor- General’s office in asking that the special audit be carried out.

Like several other regions, the Public Accounts Committee has uncovered in Region Five several breaches in processes, which include the region going beyond its budget to hire over 70 persons in 2019 under the previous administration, and even the purchasing of fuel for over 20 vehicles that were not on the region’s inventory.