By Tracey Khan – Drakes
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Auditor General, Deodat Sharma yesterday (September, 30) submitted his 10th report to Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman.
Sharma, before presenting the report to the Speaker, said they have met the statutory deadline for the past five years.
“Mr. Speaker 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 added that, “this report will be laid in the National Assembly by the Speaker and will duly be examined by the Public Accounts Committee and I should remind you that these sitting are open to the public. This is a great opportunity for citizens (taxpayers) 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.”
The findings of the report will not be made public until it is laid in the National Assembly.
The Auditor General said a number of improvements have been made over the last year to develop their operations.
In an effort to stay on par with technology, he said “We aim to continue improving our services, which will ultimately lead to achieving our Mission. In so doing, we are currently seeking IDB’s assistance to implement an audit management software, paperless working paper which would improve efficiency and productivity in our audit processes.”
Meanwhile, Speaker Trotman commended the Auditor General and his staff for ensuring the report was submitted in a timely manner.
“The report will go into the hands of the Clerk and it will be held under lock and key and even the Speaker will not have access to it and then when it is laid in the House it will be given to the Chairman and members of the Public Accounts Committee.” H
Trotman wants the functions of the PAC to be strengthened.
“I would like to see a budget accounts office so that MPs are better advised, accounting expertise and so forth, how to ask the right questions and not to ask the same questions over and over again.”
speaker of the peoples house have rights to peoples body too bugger them when u feel like it..thats power for you