Is there an explicit conflict of interest in Ms Gitanjali Singh’s case?

by E.A.B John (Stabroek News, JUly 30,2012)

Dear Editor,
After reading and re-reading Mr Anand Goolsarran’s carefully crafted letter to SN, Sunday, July 22, one feels compelled to make some observations, even though they relate to what may be regarded as (minor) details.
The actual records will reveal the following:

i)   Ms Geetanjali Singh’s actual qualifications include the ACCA and Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management.
ii)  She rejoined the Office of the Auditor General in 2002. At 2005 her position was Assistant Auditor General.
iii) In the year 2005 the respective incumbents were as follows: Auditor General (ag) – Balraj Balram; Deputy Auditor General (ag) – Deodat Sharma.

The first demitted office. His replacement was Mr Sharma and Ms Donna Ellis was appointed to act in the latter’s position.
2005 was the year arrangements were made to reorganise the Audit Office, following its transition from a regular budget agency to a constitutional entity reporting to Parliament via the Public Accounts Committee. The new organisation structure was formally approved by Parliament. The posts of Senior Deputy, Deputy and Assistant Auditor General were deleted from the structure.
The reorganisation structure included the following specific auditing components:

Mr Goolsarran may not have been aware that the new structure which was instituted included the deliberate assignment of specific groups of auditees to the respective Directors (3), to each of whom an Audit Manager reported. (So it could not have been any recent accommodation of the Auditor General (ag)). From 2006 therefore the regulatory framework provided for the senior management team of directors to collate reports and formulate related opinions. Accordingly the latter could not be attributed to any one official, although the Auditor General (ag) would have to take final responsibility therefor.

Incidentally at no time did Ms Singh occupy the position of Deputy Auditor General. In the new dispensation she was one of the Audit Managers (ag).

Further, none of the commentaries so far have asserted their acquaintance with the actual Conflict of Interest Code which is part of the Regulations to the Act, or else they would have recognised the real potential of all the auditing teams being vulnerable.

The question being posed is, if as currently constituted Ms Singh’s portfolio does not include auditees who report to the Ministry of Finance, is there an explicit (and exclusive) conflict of interest?

In this connection it seemed to have been overlooked that by law the Audit Office itself is subject to audit.

A final question relating to a comment that Ms Singh was one of two qualified audit/accounting officials, the other being the Auditor General (ag): Does Mr Goolsarran consider a UG degree in Accountancy a professional qualification, taking into account international standards with which the discipline is required to comply? If yes, then it should be noted that two other (now) Audit Managers have the same qualification as their boss.

So far as the Auditor General (ag) is concerned, however, there are certainly substantive issues of ethical standards, independence and competence. Witness the non-submission of relevant reports on critical national projects retrospective to several years, and to which attention has repeatedly been drawn.

As observed by Mr Goolsarran, the urge should be for his replacement.

Yours faithfully,
E B John

Deconstructing GeeGee

The famous loudmouthed GeeGee a chief advisor (along with Joeseph Govinda Singh). It is these two that gives advice on army options and where to find people in the terrain. Gobin was seen leaving OP late evening just before the linden massacre took place while GeeGee boasts publicly about his advisory role to the Government on security matters. 

GeeGee, a fist-pounding apologist for a former president, owner of Roraima and a couple of aircrafts, recipient of Government's Gift - Duke Lodge, Guyanese-extraordinaire who peddles information to Jadgeo and from Jagdeo to his friends. He is famous for his deal with Duke Lodge that he acquired as a member of the Privitization Unit. He sold to himself this prime real estate and built an ordinary hotel which is boosted by his constant gab as well as political frends.

GeeGee owns a number of small aircrafts that flies to interor locations as well as Suriname and Trinidad. His small planes makes night flights to various mysterious areas and he drops off people and stuff. He also picks up people and stuff. GeeGee was part of the original story of a missing aircraft - He also runs facilities at all the airports that stows bags and suitcases to international and local flights.

GeeGee was one of the master minds in the Government's action during the elections 2011 as well as the previous one. He is a very able advisor to Jagdeo's group and tradesmarks himself as righteous and plain-spoken, but his certificates read Schizophrenia (a mental disorder that makes it hard to: Tell the difference between what is real and not real; Think clearly; Have normal emotional responses).

As the owner of one of the largest buildings in Georgetown, GeeGee built so that his sewage runs through the neighbor's yard while his guttering is in the neighbor's property. Nextdoor (east) to his building is a haunted house whose occupants habitually inhabits his building too, leading to GeeGee's behavioural imbalances.

GeeGee is a pilot, always on the high. His constant dialogue with the Americans reveals the details of Government's actions and plans. From 1996 to current date, GeeGee runs the Private Sector Commission and directs their actions - and the PSC became an arm of the PPP Government.Geegee is also one of the male friends of Jagdeo; a satellite to Jagdeo, wherever there was one, there was the other. He related all the details of certain businessmen to Jagdeo, so that PPP could squeeze the businessmen. He uses his position to inset himself into every aspect of business and government.

GeeGee sits on the privitization unit that sold Guysuco lands, pegasus, the new home of Sam Hinds, GT&T shares, Duke Lodge, Thrust co, etc. In all these deals, GeeGee spied on businessmen and aided Government to sell the business out or to compete with the business, like the GT&T shares and Pegasus(Marriott). GeeGee voted to sell duke lodge to himself, while months before voted in favor of repairing Duke Lodge for 80million. He voted to sell the telephone company shares while spying on the telephone company and running his own evesdropping scam.

GeeGee made his millions during his army days while doing army shipment. Goods were never delivered, flights never made but the logs were created to show delivery and flights, so payments for the goods were made (to GeeGee), the flight was paid for (to GeeGee) and the other goods were uplifted from army barracks and sold (by GeeGee).

Geegee was named in Wikileaks and allegations of drug running have not created a dent in his verbose vituperations. His proud forays into the interior are referred drop points while his wealth built up during the National Service days.

For all his good work, this paragon of virtue today wears a national award for his service to his bank account.

He runs an escort service at Duke Lodge that provides mainly amerindian, and brazilian tastes for the friends of GeeGee. This compliments the similar activities in the Santa Mission area where he has his resort, built by the funds from the airplane that was lost. He also runs a news outfit with his buddy Dookoo (bis.gy) that reports on businessmen and is fronted by Alex Graham and turns over lots of money.

GeeGee forms a perfect role model for our kids who wish to break every rule book and make it big.

Budget 2012

Donald Ramotar will deliver on a campaign promise. The government will lower Value Added Tax from its 16% to a workable percentage and will use the 2012 budget to announce it to its supporters.

The slashing of the VAT is not necessarily what the government wants, since it was one of the taxes vigorously defending by its Former leader Bharrat Jagdeo and whom VAT was implemented under.

Among the reasons the government never wanted to lower vat was the extensive revenue it brought into the coffers. in 2007 alone it raked in $24 billion, but by mid year the following year it had raked in close to $17 billion !

But the PPP administration found itself in a tough position following the last elections. It wants the money, it want to please its supporters who have been complaining about VAT and it wants to get out of this tight hole called minority.

It will play into the Opposition hands, lower VAT, its one of the few Aces in its hands and it will want to play it very well, to secure that one seat that eluded it, putting it back into the driver's seat.

The question is now how LOW is LOW?!

Prostitutionalized by the PSC

The Private Sector Commission has shamelessly given the PPP government and Ashni Singh the best publicity blowjob ever in the history of private sector sucking up.
The Ramesh Dookoo headed body jumped out a second after the Budget was delivered to bow to Singh's feet thanking him for the reduction of Corporation Taxes in this an elections year.

The PSC which last real release on its website is dated in 2009 was last asking for a Stimulus Package which King Jagdeo laughed in their faces and said no !

The SAME PSC which has been silent on the death of hundreds of Guyanese, SILENT ON the rise in the COST OF LIVING, the RISE IN the COST OF ELECTRICITY, RISE IN THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION.

The Same PSC was beaten to silence by Jagdeo when it criticized the 16% VAT.

The SAME PSC mum on calling for greater transparency and saw Yesu Persaud's head being bashed in for criticizing Jagdeo for sweet heart deals with the friends.

The Same PSC has been tongue tied on getting the govt to addressed CORRUPTION

The Same PSC has been supportive on the govt accumulation of wealth by being silent

And this is suppose to be the Private Sector Commission Mission Statement :

TO be the leading advocate of the private sector on national issues, by articulating the shared positions of our membership.

This is the same PSC that under the rattle of PPPite Dookhoo, the Jagdeo Government can do no wrong. Leading advocate for ppp's raping Guyana with its VAT and other measures, this PSC might well have buried its head like the proverbial ostrich - only not in sand, but you know where!

Budget disaster 2011

Santa arrived in February and he was spotted at Public Buildings in a suit with a brief case.
no ?? (rubs eyes) --(look again) - (rubbing eyes till red) -(looks again)

NO ! its MINISTER ASHNI SINGH !!


Its not Christmas ! but Singh got us some goodies !

What did Guyanese do to deserve these WONDERS!!

a friggin $161 billion

raking in nearly $44 billion Value Added Tax !!!
OH SHUCKS

WE STARTED WRONG !

We the citizens of the country would like to thank Bharrat Jagdeo for the lovely gifts he sent with Ashni for US.
Bharrat we hope that you would sell your house and come live with us in Black Bush Polder.

We would really benefit from you raising the threshold but we hope our brothers in Linden would.
It seems that Ashni said that 38000 of us wouldnt have to pay INCOME TAX,
OH, Granny getting a thousand dollar more on her pension and public assistance is about $1200 more.

You are really considerate to be spending more on US, without TAXING US this year!
Dont mind people call this an ELECTION YEAR budget, WE clearly see your good deed.

Ashni to bring an early budget

Ashni is preparing for an early 2011 National Budget and is doing so as fast as he can in Ashni fashion.

Why we say Ashni Fashion? The stump has learnt the Jagdeo style of politics where consultations are a thing of the past.

Here the Finance Minister will pass an early budget since the Jagdeo led PPP government wants an early elections.

How better to start the ball rolling when issues of the previous Auditor General report is still unresolved and Jagdeo can do some 'illegal' spending dishing out cash from the Contingency Fund to some poor, unsuspecting Guyanese who he will use as elections pawn.

Ashni is is gonna come with a 'bigger, better' budget this year. We sincerely doubt there will be any reduction in taxes and if they are, it means the PPP will use this as an elections tool. What about VAT returns? More than likely this will be used to off set expenses of the Jagdeo's cable.

We predict a January budget, Ashni Style.

Steve's gotta go!

Jagdeo plans to remove Steve Surujbally from his post as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission. We had first warned right here on this blog that after months of struggling to realize funds to ensure that the Continuous Registration process is complete, the vet and Chairman of GECOM was desperately trying to meet Finance Minster Dr. Ashni Singh.

While such a task is not his job, but that of the Chief Elections Officer Gocool Bodhoo, the Chairman was at his wits end after GECOM could not find funds to rent additional properties for the registration.

Surujbally had warned before that moves were intensifying by political quacks to have the elections postponed, that was what happened with the Local Government Elections, He suspected the same will happen as GECOM prepares for general elections next year.

Now its a gamble about placing the ads with the Govt directing GECOM an autonomous body where to place their ads. Jagdeo fails to realize that he has handed out the computers yet !

Jagdeo little plan is hatching we just hope it doesn't turn out to be a ganga egg.

MoF witholding funds from GECOM

Finance Minister Ashni Singh has been avoiding Dr. Steve Surujbally, chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission for the past week.

Sources say that the GECOM Chief has been trying to meet with the keeper of the purse to ascertain why the funds for the expansion of Continuous Registration have not been flowing.

This isn't the job of the GECOM Chairman but is that of the the Chief Elections Office but is also the Chief Accountant of the Guyana Elections Commission.

We are told that Surujbally is so frustrated with the government's move to shame him that he decided he will engage the Finance Minister himself.

We were told that monies that were suppose to see the rental of several offices have not been forthcoming from the Finance Ministry.

If there are more centres of the CR Process this will be major humbug.

Surujbally knows very well that this isn't the first time that such has been as we believe that he very well knew what will happen this time around. the GECOM team was frustrated when they were preparing for local government elections till they had to call it off.

What the government aims to do by frustrating GECOM must be a state secret.

Atlantic Hotel Inc

Of recent, we have seen and heard of Jagdeo's vows to complete the so-called Marriott's Hotel. 

What many people do not realize is that the public funds will be used to do this.   

What we also need to now know and realize, is that the hotel is being built by the Atlantic Hotels Inc. A local group. Note that it reads "Atlantic"... one would immediately assume that it has everything to do with Bobby Ramroop of Queen's Atlantic.    

However, Chris Ram has published in his article an amazing fact that can be corroborated. Guess who are the owners of Atlantic Hotel Inc?    

The company is registered to Winston Brassington, Marcia Nadir-Sharma and the Lawyer working at NICIL. 

This is a huge scam!!! 

How can officers of the Government form a private company that will have Government funds funneled to it? 

More will be exposed as time go by. Meanwhile, as "time goes by" moneys will be suctioned into this project by Brassington and company. 

Wanna take a guess as to who is the Chairman of NICILs board? Ashni Singh! And who does Ashni report to? Of course, kinpin, Bharrat!

This one will pale in comparison to synergyless pit.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CLICO POLICY HOLDERS

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CLICO POLICY HOLDERS.

No money for policy holders is possible now …or EVER. 

Fact is, the money belonging to CLICO Guyana has been invested in Miami as revealed when the Liquidator of CLICO Bahamas did an audit of its accounts.

To date the Government of Guyana has failed to address the issue at hand and pay policy holders their monies knowing very well that the coffers of Bank of Guyana could make the payments.

From the President to the Finance Minister to the Head of the Presidential Secretary - all were confident that CLICO Guyana will recover the monies invested and have said so publicly.

But why doesn’t this confidence translate into the payment of the millions of dollars Geeta Singh-Knights have knowingly squandered.   

The Liquidator of CLICO Bahamas made public several issues that the government nor the Financial Intelligence Unit have decided to investigate. 

How is it funds left Guyana for Bahamas? 

For what purpose?

Who made that decision?

Why was the money invested in Miami? 

No one knew when the funds were transferred?

Open letter to the powers that be

Dear Drs. Jagdeo, Ashni Singh, Ministers Manickchand and Westford or to whom its may concern, 

     Today is the 9th Day in the month of June and marks almost three weeks since I last received my salary. I must say thank you so much for the 5% increase it gives me a sense of security I have never had before 1992. 

These days I can afford so much more than my family use to as $37,000 has given me immense spending power. I haven’t been able to put aside money for my own home as yet but I know I will live that dream in the near future.
Right now, me and my child mother are subletting a small apartment with her mother but I would like to share with you my expenses to inform your decision making.

Today I have my last thousand dollar and I know that it will take me to work and back until you pay us next week. 

When I collect my salary here is a list of my expenses:

 Electricity – $9789 (a must pay)

 Market (one week supply)

 Rice, not the wholesome kind- $780

2 pounds sugar                        - $160

Salt                                          - $100

Greens and other essentials     - $7000

1 chicken                                  -$ 980

Salt fish                                    -$600

Milk                                          -$1570

 That is almost $20000.

I haven’t put aside money for my travel to work, my child’s daily school expenses nor have I catered for his meals. But I have a solid $17000 left to last me for the rest of the month. This is what I will use to spend to top up the groceries from time to time.

As for the dream of a house, I started to save $100 a month, mostly the coins and fine change I am left with.

I do hope this letter finds each of your well as I can imagine you working hard to make all our dreams come through.

JOHN PUBLIC

From professional to ugly politician - Ashni Singh

According to the Press, Finance Minister (technocrat-turned-politician) was the guest speaker to the Annual General Meeting of the private Sector Commission.

However one would have thought that he was speaking to a group of PPP supporters. His entire speech was based on his belief:
- that the press is biased against the Government
- that "mistakes" during the elections must be excused as mistakes
- that the one or two lapses of GoG must not be interpreted as 'corruption'
- that the transparency international and economic freedom evaluations are all liars
- that the auditor general reports on 'lapses' by the GoG should not be viewed as report of corruption or fraud

What a shame!

He spent one hour quoting from the Dick on criticisms of the USA government, not realizing that he was showing his Government's weakness! He tried to prove to all that Dick Morris could have said what he wanted about the US government....
NEWS FLASH to MR. ASHNI SINGH: no one can criticize the GoG!!! Jagdeo, yourself and everyone else reacts violently when criticized!

He spent another hour talking about elections in the UK - and asking all the business men to pardon any mistakes the GoG will make during the next general elections.

He spent another half hour lambasting the press about quoting from the auditor general's report - while he spent the hour quoting from various sources.

He spent an hour talking about the politics of the PPP and, reading between the lines, he begged the audience to keep supporting the PPP.

Two-and-a-half-hours of venal garbage. Rather than talk about investment, liquidity, bank regulations and topics of interest to the businessmen, he preached politics!!!

What a waste of time! The brilliance that we once knew as Ashni Singh has disappeared. In his place is a Jagdeo lackey, a PPP apologist and a corrupt politician who makes excuses for the lapses of the Government. I guess it all started with construction of the Caricom's annexe.

Meanwhile, we note that Ashni Singh holds the post of Finance Minister while his wife holds the post of Auditor General (ag).

The stink of corruption - II

A government that is deep seated in criminal activities can only reap the benefits of such while it must earn its negative image - yet become indignant and angry when it get's it well-deserved cries of "shame" from the world.

Transparency International, Business Monitor International, World Economic freedom - all of these have shown the picture of the corrrupt Government of Guyana. And yet what? Corruption continues and the President and ministers (without shame) blame the consultants and the report writers. Is everyone wrong? Is the entire world of independent professionals - all wrong on their condemnation of Guyana? Or is the handful of corrupt GoG officials, the bloated, corrupted office of the president, the criminal, corrupt minds of presidential advisers, and the group of jagdeoites all bent of filling their overseas accounts while the people of Guyana have to bear the shame of the Government's actions?

We have listed a number of multi-billon dollars scams over the years that have been linked to the PPP and more so the PPP Jagdeo administration.

We would not forgot the Death Squad links, Roger Khan and his Squad links, the links to a certain suit passing through the CJIA and two top officials one of them sits at Freedom House, the gun licensing links, fuel smuggling links, passport frauds and so many more.

Last year, several government ministers’ lives were said to be threatened and they hired personal security - we do not know who pays these security officers (some who are attached to the Office of the President and other former Police Officers).

But, what we know is that these ‘body guards’ have been deployed to give full protection at certain locations, excluding some public restaurants and public forum including Parliament and public days at their offices.

Jennifer Westford who dated the President’s close man was provided with two body guards after her ex-Baffa had allegedly threatened her several times. We understand that the real reason for the bodyguards were threats that emanated from a certain man who was the ex-body guard for our dear dear friend serving time overseas.

Priya Manickchand claimed to need a body guard after several men made sexual overtures to her in public.

Leslie Ramsammy was given several Presidential Guards for protection after his contact with our dear dear friend was made public

Manzoor Nadir had two body guards when his name was linked to drugs in a taxi several years ago, now we understand that he requested several police officers at his home and homes of families after a grenade attack at his son’s home.

Ashni Singh requested personal security after his life was threatened by a member of staff at the Finance Ministry (but he later declined).

Brave Brave Boxing-Promoter-land-dealer-mining-dealer-dolphin-dealer Odinga Lumumba had has to hire four men to protect him as he is said to have large amounts of cash on him all the time. (must be the Lotto Funds to ensure empowerment, or did he sell a dolphin or, wait, a piece of land)

Kwame McKoy, not a MINISTER but a Royal Object hired a body guard following the release of the infamous Kwame/Julius tape, he felt that someone was out to get him - and we thought Aubrey Norton was a creature?

How does Roger Lunchoen feel about all this, he is the keeper of secrets after all!

One day...

IF they have nothing to be afraid of… we wonder...

A US$15-million man and his bodyguard

Two pictures of a US$15-worth Fip and his bodyguard.

Surveying the market while Ashni decides what to do with the G$77-million per year unaccounted "consultant money" and Jagdeo decides what to do with the 2010 lotto funds before the case is called to court.

The stink of corruption!

Finally someone woke up and smelled the stink of corruption. Hats off to Desmond Trotman and his lawyers. I vote the "citizen of Guyana" award to Desmond!

Well known WPA Activist Desmond Trotman has sued the government for not paying the Lotto Funds into the Consolidated Fund- we all know and as stated in the media these monies were being spent without the necessary Parliamentary Approval. Well parliament be damned, spent without even any care for accountability!

When King Jagdeo on his Cabinet Outreaches would give away a $50 million here and a $20 million there. These exclude the millions prepaid for pipes, pharmaceuticals, rooms at hotels, Limo at Miami, etc.

Even the PNC (which has denounced this act many many times) could not muster up the courage and will to take this matter to court-we wonder about the many lawyers in that party - maybe they are all beneficiaries of the lotto-unaccounted-free-flowing-money.

The Audit Office of Guyana has reported this illegal act many times in multiple reports. In its just recent report of the 2008 accounts, the Auditor General (which is co-headed by the wife of the Finance Minister) said:

“The Contingencies Fund continued to be abused with amounts totaling $670.343 million drawn from the Fund being utilized to meet expenditure that DID NOT meet the ELIGIBILITY criteria as defined in the ACT”

Page 12 of the AG’s 2008 report also states that Expenditure in respect to services which by law are directly chargeable to the Consolidated Fund DO NOT form part of the voted provisions approved by the National Assembly.

These expenditures include:
1. Repayment and servicing of Public Debt
2. Emoluments of holders of Constitutional Offices
3. Pensions and gratuities of Public Officers

The Financial Management Act spells out how and why exactly monies should be extracted from the Consolidated Fund.

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh in this case must show that “urgent, unavoidable and unforeseen NEED for the expenditure has arisen”, for which NO money can be reallocated as provided for under the FMA- or for which no money has been allocated for, or for which the sum allocated is not sufficient.

When the Minister does the above, this is to be tabled in the National Assembly. According to the 2008 AG Report more than 80 advances totaling more than $4 billion were drawn from the fund.

Of course, by the end of 2008, the Ministry of Finance could not account for more than 17 of those advances totaling more than $1 billion.

The Auditor General Deodat Sharma in his report said that his previous reports “highlighted the continual abuse of this fund”. The report listed several instances where monies were taken from the Fund showing wanton abuse. These included:

1.More than $200 million to the Public Works Ministry for support to the Transport and Harbour Department

2. More than $180,000 million to the Guyana Defense Force

3. More than $77 million to the Finance Ministry for Consultancy

4. More than $72 million to the Home Affairs Ministry for Carifesta expenses

These are only a few sums that were captured by the AG Office for 2008. One can only wonder what took place in 2009!

We congratulate Desmond Trotman for the long awaited move as we await the outcome of this court matter.

We take this opportunity to caution Desmond, Ram and Fitzpatrick - look our for nasty 'letter' on your wife (or wives), girlfriends, cars, any duty free if you ever had, any tax free if you ever had, any fetish if you ever had....and of course even if you didn't have, they will now get dirty.

Flips, Fibs, Fling, Flassington and Flagdeo

FIP’s FIBS

Well Fip, Ashni and Winston ought to be awarded for the Best Actor and Best Supporting actors respectively in the movie Synergy or not!

Kudos to Kaieteur News for the excellent piece of journalism this week, that skin up the PPP government and their lies as they sought to give another friend more of our tax payers money!

Well Fip lied when he said that Synergy Holdings built road in the state of Georgia in the US.

The good folks in the transparent State Department in Georgia must be wondering ‘who the heck is Fip and what the hell is Synergy ?’ cause the plot thickened when We found out that poor Fip and Synergy never had any Road Building experience!

Now now, the government will have to explain why exactly it was given Fip US$15 million! Because we KNOW that Fip would not be building any roads to the Amaila Falls.

Our sources indicated that that this money could have been to bluff investors that the project is starting while helping their dear Friend Fip to get on his feet.

Fact is, Synergy Holdings has NOT done a single work anywhere in the world! NO one really knows what they are all about their webpage is just a cheap publicity stunt.

Amazingly, since 2002 when Fip presented the government with a proposal he couldn’t get this thing running??!

But we know that 2011 is closer and the PPP has to offer its supporters something for them to be returned to office, even if it’s a road in the forest.

Just be reminded that Fip claimed that he is doing windmill projects in Minnesota and Kansas also and we are still looking for those projects!

We wonder if Brassington is in his right sense when he says that ‘ this is the single most important project at this time’ He forget the fibre optic cable he and his friends are suppose to be bringing from Brazil.

Shucks! this is really a talk half left half piece!

But we will leave you with Synergy Holdings Mission Statement:

MISSION STATEMENT
To plan and develop projects that offer the greatest benefits to the most people with the least impact on our environment. We firmly believe that progress and development can be accomplished synergistically with the environment, not at its expense.

Do we need an ambassador to China?

We believe that it is the most idiotic move in the history of this Country’s Foreign Relations and we have written about it: The PPP have failed or should we say refused to appoint an ambassador to one of the largest and growing economies in the world, China.

And we are already facing the consequences.

Guyana is still struggling to finance its Alternative Energy Programme, we have seen the failure of the Hope Wind Farm, well it was never conceived and we are looking on as the government prematurely tries to defend move to restart the Amelia Hydro Project with wacko Fip.

But lets look at what has been going on this same Region for this year.

China and Venezuela signed a series of agreements just last month! To do what?!

Well Venezuela is moving to exploit its Orinoco’s reserves belt for oil and is looking to develop it Hydro Electricity capacity!

China is now providing our neighbor with more that US$20 billion for its Energy Sector.

Such a shame we were not able to cash in on that, but we are guessing that Mr. President who is also our Finance Minister missed that one juggling so many portfolios and projects!

Here is a little hint PPP, Bilateral Trade between China and Venezuela has netted more than US$7 Billion for our neighbor!

But maybe he will take a hint as his government and the rest of Caricom plans to face off with Brazil next week, don’t waste any more time!

Business Monitor International rankings

The recent (March 2010) issue of the BMI's Latin America and Caribbean Monitor gives Guyana a very low ranking for a number of areas. BMI has also provided a scathing outlook and its own projection of growth for Guyana.
A summary:

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Guyana scores 38.1 in BMI's business environment ratings, ranking it 117th out of 167 states.

SUGAR
"According to Finance Minister Ashni Singh, sugar production will add 1.0 percentage points to real GP growth in 2010, in contract with our own more cautious stance on state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation's growth potential. as a result, we hold to our 3.5% real GDP forecast for 2010."

BMI view on Government
"Domestic opposition to government intervention in the economy is becoming the biggest threat to the ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) electoral hopes in 2011. with little chance of a constitutional amendment to allow President Bharrat Jagdeo to stand for re-election,t he party will be hard pushed to regain its majority, in our view."

BMI's view on Data and forecasts
"Our concerns over Guyana's fiscal woes have been exacerbated by the Government's 2010 national budget, which pledges a substantial uptick in infrastructure and social expenditure. If revenue flows fail to meet government's expectations - which we expect will be the case given that our own 3.5% real GDP growth forecast for 2010 is lower than Government's 4.4% forecast - the fiscal gap could be substantially above 2009 levels. Until we get a clear breakdown of the planned budgetary expenditure, we hold to our GY22.3bln (or 7.9% of GDP) central government deficit forecast.


UPDATE (WPG update)
WPG has been reliably informed that the Norwegian's LCDS promise is evaporating faster than the carbon emissions. The money will now be tied up in the World Bank's coffers until that institution is satisfied that proper accountability is in place for its use.

The LCDS fund was the main source of funding for the Government's fiber optic cable and the road to Amalia falls. Since that is now uncertain, we opine that Jagdeo will force Finance Minister to get Parliamentary release of funds for those projects.

With a clear majority in parliament, they will get what they want - resulting in greater deficits per the BMI projections.

Public Accounts part trios

We continue to analyze the report of the Public Accounts' Committee.

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DEC 2004.
The Public Accounts Committee said that it expressed dissatisfaction that the Guyana Office for Investment retained $0.522 Million which was not expended, IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW, from the amount $7.4 million allocated for the rehabilitation of office building and purchase of office equipment instead of returning same to the Office of the President for REPAYMENT to the Consolidated Fund.

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DEC 2005
The Public Accounts Committee in its report noted the frequency in which the National Communications Network operated in violation of the laws in not following the Procurement Regulations and advised that the Accounting Officer of that Agency should employ greater supervisory control to ensure that there was adherence to Tender Board Procedures.

MINISTRY OF FINANCE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DEC 2004
The Committee in its report for that year expressed concern about the many unlicensed liquor operators. It was noted from the Auditor General’s report that amounts totaling $15.949 million were collected for liquor licenses. An examination of liquor licenses records for Regions 2, 3, 4 and 10 revealed a total of 1855 registered premises did not renew their licenses in 2004. In the absence of information of the status of these businesses, it could not be determined whether all were due for renewal. The PAC proposed that the Custom and Trade Administration investigate this matter.
 
FOR THE YEAR DEC 31 2005
The Committee continued to express concern that monies collected from the Lottery Fund
1.WERE NOT deposited into the Consol Fund as provided for in the Constitution and
2.Were spent without the consent of the National Assembly

FOR THE YEAR 31 DEC 2004
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The Committee reports that an imprest bank account no.444 which became non operational in July 1996 reflected an overdraft of $51.635 million. The Committee proposed that the Ministry prepare a losses report and submit it to the Finance Ministry to resolve the issue.

With some 11 stale dated cheques valued at US$12,591.36, which were remitted though Diplomatic Bags and whose whereabouts have not yet been ascertained, the Foreign Affairs Ministry was advised to approach the Finance Ministry with a view of obtaining guidance in the clearing of the cheques.

The Committee said that in respect of the Foreign Missions, the Auditor General noted that some of the Mission lacked adequate segregation of duties in the Accounting Units.

FOR THE YEAR 31 DEC 2005
There was evidence to indicate that remittances to the various Missions were not received in a timely manner to allow for the smooth execution of the operations of these missions. The Report said that remittances to meet capital expenditure did not arrive at the Missions until after the close of the financial year, and the committee expressed serious concerns over the issue. In this regard the committee proposed that a routine system be adopted for remitting monies to missions, especially in relation to capital expenditure.

The Auditor General reported that the main bank account was affected by two outstanding advances totaling US$3,901.83 issued to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation to facilitate payment of hotel expenses for a Ministerial visit.

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2004
The Committee advised the Ministry to present all the financial returns for the warrants issued for 2004 for Audit examinations.

FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2005
Report said that the Committee noted with concern that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority RECEIVED funds from the Agriculture Ministry through subsidies and Contribution to Local Organizations rather than subventions to conduct its operations. It was reported that in the AG report that the NDIA was formed by ACT in 2004. The Authority came into ACT during MAY 2005 and is a separate and legal entity and is required to maintain its OWN accounting records which are subject to separate reporting and audit.

MINISTRY OF TOURISM, INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE
FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2004
Amounts totaling $1.099 million were expended to purchase computers, photocopier, workstation desks and filing cabinets for the Guyana Tourism Authority resulting in an excess expenditure of $598,544 which was deemed as UNAUTHORISED. The Committee in its report expressed concern that the Ministry has been expending sums that were not approved by the Finance Ministry.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2004
Amounts totaling $4.850 million expended to purchase 1000 of ‘What’s cooking in Guyana’. The books were received and taken to the Book Distribution Unit of the Ministry. The report said that a physical count revealed that 609 books were in stock where as the bin card and the stock ledger showed balances of 780 and 826 respectively. The Committee advised the Accounting Officer to consider a new mechanism for the distribution of school books.
Three years has elapsed since the Ministry filed a losses report on the misappropriation of funds totaling $136,637 and the matter had not received a response from the Finance Secretary. The Committee asked that the Accounting Officer take the matter up with the Finance Ministry.

THE GEORGETOWN PUBLIC HOSPITAL CORPORATION
FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2004
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation which is now a separate entity from the Health Ministry continued to use the Ministry’s Cabinet approval CP (2003) 11:4: M dated 25 NOV 2005 for the purchase of drugs and medical supplies from specialized agencies, locally and overseas. The Procurement Act supersedes the Cabinet decision and as such the Committee advised the GPHC Accounting officer to adhere to the Procurement Act.

FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2005
The Committee in its report noted that the Corporation was using a Cabinet approval as the basis of procuring drugs from the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation rather than procuring such drugs through the Health Ministry. It was reported by the Auditor General that amounts totaling $443.203 Million were paid to the New Guyana Pharmaceuticals Corporation for the supply of drugs and medical supplies and during the year under review, the Corporation entered into 3 contracts using the Ministry’s Cabinet approval CP (2003) 11:4: M dated 25 Nov 2003 for the purchase of drugs and medical supplies of which amounts totaling $198.802 million were paid on these contracts.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2004
The Auditor General Reported that amounts totaling $723.945 were expended on Materials, Equipment and Supplies. Included in this figure are sums totaling $675.816 million which related to the purchase of drugs of which $225.059 million represents purchases made from overseas suppliers. This was done via cabinet approval CP (2003):4: M of Dec 2003 which was utilized to purchase drugs and medical supplies from specialized agencies locally and overseas. Given the time period that would have elapsed, it would appear necessary for the present arrangements for the supply of drugs and medical supplies from overseas be reviewed.

FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2005
The Committee expressed disappointment over the absence of a supervisory role by the Government and particularly the Health Ministry in the procurement process involving the GPC.

ONCE AGAIN THE COMMITTEE WARNED AN ACCOUNTING OFFICER OF THE PRACTICE OF PROCURING GOODS AND SERVICES WITHOUT TENDERING.

LABOUR, HUMAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY
FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2004
The Public Assistance imprest bank account no.092 which ceased to be operational several years ago was overdrawn by $270.586 as at 31 Dec 2004. This was due mainly to inadequate provisions made over the years in the National Estimates to facilitate the payment of Old Age pensions and public assistance.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2005
The Committee expressed serious concerns over the failure of the Heads of Municipalities and District Councils to submit financial statements on an annual basis as required by the law despite the legal requirement to produce financial statements in a timely manner as well as the penalties involved for the failure to do so. It was noted in the PAC report by the AG that two of the municipal councils and majority of the district councils have been violating the provisions of the Law.

MINISTRY OF CULTURE,YOUTH AND SPORTS
FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2005
The Committee in its report said that with regard to the Auditor General’s comments that the Ministry operated a current account no. 410004235 held at the then National Bank of Industry and Commerce for the operations of the National Cultural Centre and did not pay over the proceeds to the Consolidated Fund and have the related expenditure met out of the appropriations.
The Committee advised the Accounting Officer to regularize the operations of the National Cultural Centre and reminded that all revenue collected should be paid into the Consolidated Fund and related expenditures be met from appropriations.

MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND WATER
FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2005
It was reported by the Auditor General that unspent monies totaling $23.796 was not refunded to the consolidated Fung BUT KEPT IN A SEPARTE ACCOUNT. The Committee in its report reminded that Accounting Officer that all unspent amounts should be refunded to the Consolidate Fund and expenditures should be met from the appropriated sum.

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
FOR THE YEAR END 31 DEC 2005
The PAC in its report said that with regard to the Auditor General’s findings that there were:
1. 41 instances where breaches of Tender Board Procedures were observed
2. 5 payments amounting to $2.720 million for which Ministerial Tender Board approvals were not seen
3. 28 payments valued at $2.245 million subdivided to avoid adjudication to the Departmental Tender Board
4. 8 payments totaling $703,050, which exceeded the limit of $600,000 and should have had the approval of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board
5. And 9 payment vouchers valued at $7.074 million which had no supporting documents attached to verify accuracy and validity of the transactions.

MORE TO COME: Fuel for Regional administration’s generators’ provided electricity to private homes for a fee, Contractors paid without physical examination done, resulting in overpayment, 300 meters purchased for Hinterland area still in store and Magistrates used $700000 in taxis for out of town duties.

Public accounts part deux

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS SCRUTINY CONTINUES:

THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A FIGMENT OF SOMEONE’S IMAGINATION BUT TAKEN FROM THE REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE FOR THE YEARS 2004 AND 2005.
CONSOLIDATED FUND

The Public Accounts Committee said that it noticed that even though the Consolidated Fund was opened there was still an UNRECONCILED balance in the account the findings reported that there were difference between the bank account balances reported in the Statement of the Current Assets and Liabilities of the Government and that in the records of the Bank of Guyana. According to the records of the Bank, the new Consolidated Fund account reflected a positive balance of $6.459 billion as at 31 December 2004, compared to a negative balance of $6.153 billion noted by the bank.

In addition, the total bank account balances of other ministries and departments amounted to a negative balance of $8.446 billion, compared to a positive balance of $10.907 billion as reported on the statement.

The Committee reports that according to Section 73(2) of the FMA Act, the Finance Minster is required to prepare a Statement of Contingent Liabilities which forms a component of the annual consolidated financial statements. The Act also defines a contingent liability as “a future commitment, usually to spend public monies which is dependent upon the happening of a specified event or the materialization of a specified circumstance”.

The Committee in its report said that DESPITE previous recommendations that liabilities for entities that are no longer in existence be transferred to the Public Debt, IT IS DISAPPOINTING to note that at the time of reporting in March 2006, NO ACTION was taken on the matter. The report said too that it should be noted that the statement submitted was not prepared in accordance to the ACT.

The PAC said too that according to the Statement of Receipts and Payments of the Contingencies Fund for the year end 31 December 2005, total payments of the Fund amounted to $5.865 billion, compared with $2.647 billion in 2004, an increase of $3.218 billion. Total Receipts from the Consolidated Fund amount to $5.856 billion as against $1.188 billion in 2004 an increase of $4.668 billion. This gives an excess of payments over receipts of $9 million.

Of the payments made from the Contingencies Fund for the period under review, 25 totaling $1.468 billion remained outstanding as at 31 December 2005.

The Report also noted that 19 ADVANCES totaling $37.634 million granted during the period 1986 to 1996 were still outstanding as of the 31 December 2005. At the time when the matter was reported to the Public Accounts Committee, the nature of the 19 advances could not be determined.
The Report said that during the time period involved and that fact that there was no financial reporting during the period 1986-1991, it was not possible to ascertain how the amounts were expended for the purpose of replenishing the Fund.

The Public Accounts Committee in its meetings over the 2004 and 2005 periods scrutinized the records of Ministries, Departments and Regional bodies.
In its Report the Committee noted that there were a number of bodies including ministries that still breached the Financial Regulations.

To be continued...