Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Hon. Natalio Wheatley is set to lay several important audit reports before the House of Assembly, as outlined in the order paper of the current sitting.
These documents are part of the ongoing reforms following the Commission of Inquiry (COI). The audits are the latest in a series to come out of this process.
The reports to be laid include the Audit Report on COVID-19 Stimulus Grants to Farmers and Fisherfolk, the Audit Report on Major Public Contracts and the Audit Report on COVID-19 MSME Assistance Grants
These reports will soon be made publicly available, providing the public with detailed insights into how public funds were managed across multiple pandemic relief programs and major contracts.
The reports related to the COVID-19 assistance programs stem from Recommendation B13 from the COI. The COI recommended that the Auditor General or an independent body review the allocation of funds to determine whether proper governance procedures were followed. The audit will assess several critical factors, including:
– Whether the grants adhered to authorized criteria.
– The governance steps taken to ensure fair distribution.
– The extent of grants provided to individuals or organizations not meeting the required criteria.
– How well back-end accounting measures, if any, have worked in recovering improperly allocated funds.
Meanwhile, the report on Major Public Contracts stems from Recommendation B18, which calls for an audit of major public contracts issued over the past three years. This audit will examine all projects valued at over $100,000 and investigate issues such as:
– Whether any manipulation occurred to bypass the open tender process.
– The adequacy of reasons for any tender waivers.
– Contractor selection processes.
– Whether projects were completed and if not, the cost of delays.
– Whether the public received value for money.
Once laid before the House of Assembly, the reports will become publicly available.