IN HIS CHRISTMAS MESSAGE last week, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart called on Barbadians to give more, because the country requires it at this time.
He stated: “As leaders at all levels of the society, we can give more by being ever conscious that we are always being watched, and that the examples we set by the things we say, by the things we do, and even by the places we go, will influence those we lead either for good or for ill.”
Today, we call on Mr Stuart and those who serve under him in the Cabinet to follow this same advice. We would wish them to recognise that Barbadians are watching them and require more of them – our citizens are particularly concerned about the leadership of the statutory bodies for which they are responsible.
How can you demand more from others when you preside over agencies that spend tens of millions of taxpayer dollars each year, but which for years have submitted no financial reports? How can you properly evaluate them when a critical tool for measuring their performance is so neglected?
The National Insurance Fund, for example, is one of the largest handlers of public money – in the billions – and while we can’t suggest they are being irresponsible in their management of it, we can’t support their failure to supply complete financial data for audit purposes.
According to the 2015 Auditor General’s report, accounts for the financial years 2005 to 2009 have not benefited from complete audits by the private firm responsible because it is still awaiting information. And the audits for 2010 to 2015 are yet to start because the “relevant information” has not been provided.
Mr Prime Minister, you must demand more from the NIS.
But National Insurance is just the tip of the iceberg.
Sanitation Service Authority: Audit of 2009 financials have started, but still awaiting outstanding data, while 2010’s financials were submitted in 2015, but absent of working papers. Draft financials for 2011 to 2013 were submitted last year and those for 2014 and 2015 are outstanding.
Severance Payment Fund where audits are outstanding going back to 2010 because of incomplete submissions.
No accounts were submitted by the Sugar Factory Smoke Control Board since 2001.
No financials submitted by the Transport Authority for audit since 2010.
No financial statements submitted by the Unemployment Fund for audit since 2009.
The audit of the accounts of the Barbados Agricultural Credit Trust for the financial years that ended June 30, 2014, and 2015 is outstanding.
The audit of the accounts of the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation for 2012 to 2015 remains outstanding.
The audit of the accounts of the Barbados Tourism Authority for the financial years ended March 31, 2012, and 2013 were near completion. The audits for the years ended March 31, 2014, and 2015 are outstanding.
The audit of the accounts of the Barbados Vocational Training Board for the financial years ended March 31, 2007, to 2015 is outstanding.
Barbados Water Authority audits for 2012-13 are now taking place, and outstanding for subsequent years.
The audit for Caves of Barbados Limited (Harrison Cave) has been outstanding since 2011.
The audit of the National Conservation Commission for 2011-12 is now taking place; for 2012-13 still to begin soon; while reports for subsequent years are still outstanding.
The audit of the National Council on Substance Abuse for 2010-11 was completed in 2015, while all subsequent years are outstanding.
The National Housing Corporation audits from 2013-14 and beyond are still outstanding.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital audits have been outstanding since 2011-12.
The Rural Development Commission audits have been outstanding since 2007-08.
The Transport Board audits have been outstanding since 2011-12.
The Urban Development Commission audits have been outstanding since 2007-08.
Mr Prime Minister, we agree 100 per cent with you that the country requires more. This state of affairs relating to public officers accounting for taxpayers’ money that had been entrusted to them cannot be allowed to continue. It is not enough for the Auditor General to enumerate these each year. Those responsible must be held accountable.
