Region Seven administration commended by PAC chair

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, April 17, 2018

The regional administration of Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) was on Monday commended by the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as it met in Parliament Chambers to consider the Auditor General’s (AG’s) report for the year 2016.

During the day’s sitting, the AG’s report on matters relating to staffing, drug purchases and overpayments on contracts were considered.

Based on answers provided by the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Roderick Edinborough and his team of officers, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Pauline Campbell-Sukhai, performing the duties of the chairperson in the absence of substantive chairman Mohammed Irfaan Ali, commended them for the marked improvement in region’s management of its finances.

“There seems to have been somewhat of an improvement in the region and I will ask that some of the areas that we have had some prolonged questioning, that you take note of those and make sure that you come prepared in the future because I am sure we will see you back in the stipulated time and thank you again for the engagement here, you and your team,” Sukhai said.

Meanwhile, committee member and Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, highlighted the efforts of the regional administration to work within known constraints as she acknowledged the difficulties faced by the outlying regions to adhere to the stipulations for clearing cheque orders.

“This is a matter that has been coming for several years to the Public Accounts Committee and we are not only here to see the discrepancies, but we are here to be advised so that we can make recommendations to the Minister of Finance,” Minister Lawrence said.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly has the primary task of examining the use of allocated funds by the various arms of government. It functions mainly by calling to account regional and other agencies cited for noncompliance by the AG.

 

By: Kidackie Amsterdam