Environmental audit to focus on endangered turtles’ habitat

By Devina Samaroo

The protection of the nesting ground of the four endangered species of turtles in Guyana is among top priority for the Audit Office of Guyana as it moves ahead to commence environmental audits across the country.

However, Auditor General, Deodat Sharma says that the $60.6 million budget cut to the Agency will hinder the scope of work he wanted to embark on to ensure his office plays a greater role in the preservation of the environment.

Environmental audits are an assessment of the extent an organization is observing practices which minimize harm to the environment.

Sharma, during a recent interview with the News Room, disclosed that he is particularly interested in auditing the area along the coast where the endangered species of turtles dwell.

“You know we have the four endangered species of turtles and they normally nest along the northern coast of Atlantic. I have been speaking to Miss (Annette) Arjoon in terms of working together, how are we going to be protecting the environment for those turtles still coming and nesting on the beach of Guyana because if you have an oil spill, there is where we’ll have the first environmental issue,” the Auditor General stated.

Guyana’s coast is an important nesting site for four species of endangered sea turtles: Hawksbill, Green, Leatherback and Olive Ridley Turtles.

Among the things he will focus on during the audit is the strength of local legislation to enforce the protection of the environment.

“We’re going to examine the different legislation to see that they have clauses to protect the environment, at present, they are still working on some of this,” he stated.

The Auditor General, however, lamented that because of the budget cut to the agency, he may not get to do everything he envisioned for the year.

Some areas of interest for environmental audits, he said, are in the forestry, fishery and solid waste management sectors.

Meanwhile, Audit Manager Dhanraj Persaud explained to the News Room that the Audit Office is working with the Canadian High Commission to conduct training of its staff in the area of environmental audits.

The training is expected to commence in June and soon after, the audits are likely to begin. Environmental audits will be in compliance with the fourth “E” of auditing. The other three are the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.