Fewer contract overpayments in 2021 Audit Report

There are fewer contract overpayment concerns for works executed in 2021, according to Auditor General (AG) Deodat Sharma.

The AG, who handed over the completed 2021 report to Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir on Monday, singled out the Public Works Ministry as showing marked improvements in handling contract payments, resulting in fewer overpayments.

The ministry came in for commendation from the Auditor General. This is noteworthy because several overpayment concerns have been raised in the past when the annual reports are examined in the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Aside from the improvements in this ministry, Sharma said that there have been general improvements in overpayments.

“A lot of the overpayments on projects that were discovered, they were actually refunded even before I issued my report,” Sharma said.

He did not provide further details because the report has not yet been made public. It will only be for public consumption once it is tabled in the National Assembly.

There was a high level of cooperation from government officials during the auditing process too.

In addition to the 2021 audit, five performance audits were handed over. These reviewed Guyana’s preparedness for marine oil spill response; the training programmes established and developed by the Council of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (C-TVET); the receipt, receipt, storage, and distribution of textbooks to schools; the management of drugs and medical supplies at the Ministry of Health and regional health facilities; and, the management of healthcare waste at hospitals.

Speaker Nadir said that these audits are important, particularly since they cover crucial areas of public spending.