Auditor General Pamela Munroe Ellis and Permanent Secretary for Health, Dunstan Bryan today clashed over a compliance report highlighting concerns with accountability regarding the COVID-19 expenditure.
Mrs Monroe Ellis told the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament that there is evidence that there is significant room for improving the accountability and governance process. She notes the recurring absence of financial reports spanning 9 years. A nine-year deficit for appropriation accounts from the Ministry of Health led to a heated exchange after a report from the auditor general found the Ministry’s approach for accounting wanting.
In the case of the COVID-19 expenditure, the Auditor General cited several breakdowns in how the Ministry addressed the health emergency. She says the emergency did not negate the need for accountability and financial guidelines for some 8 billion dollars. It was established that part of the challenge rests with the Ministry’s inability to secure the relevant personnel and breakdowns with the financial management system. Watch the report:
Watch more Major Stories | Breaking News | Latest Developments – CVM TV
