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The More Things Change The More They Remain The Same

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cashThe fact that there is continuing debate as to who to attribute the famous quote the more things change, the more they stay the same does not dilute its meaning in anyway. This quote further reminds us of another, if you keep doing things the same way, don’t expect the results to be different!

The Auditor General Report 2008 was laid in parliament recently. As expected, this faithful government fiscal watchdog highlighted several financial queries which point to financial mismanagement and contravention of the financial rules of government (in this case the review would have covered the period of the former government). Unfortunately the Auditor General’s office does not maintain a website which allows the business of the people to be made available.  Until the hardcopy is published Barbadians will have to satisfy themselves with the snippets which the Nation newspaper has been reporting.

In today’s Nation newspaper the case of Crab Hill Police Station was highlighted based on the Auditor General Report 2008. According to the report Jose and Jose Construction Company Limited was awarded the original contract at an approved cost of $1,483,485.28 in 2004. The project was halted and subsequently awarded to Steve’s Building Works in 2007. The final cost according to the report was 4 million dollars. At the official opening last year it was announced that an additional $415,000 dollars would be required to do weather proofing work. We could cite other cases arising from the report reported by the Nation but it would only serve to confirm what we already know.

This brings us to the part where we highlight the lack of accountability in government. New governments come after old governments go yet we read of the financial exceptions reported dutifully by the Auditor General on an annual basis whether BLP or DLP.  Stupefying are the shallow comments offered by heads of ministry to explain irregularities. While we focus on the politicians we often forget that the civil servants are the one constant in the equation which often goes unnoticed.

The point of this blog you ask? We need to stop the focus on DLP or BLP and accept that unless we overhaul our current system of government to demand accountability we will continue to read the financial irregularities as reported by the Auditor General whether DLP or BLP has the reigns of government.

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  1. mash up & buy back Avatar
    mash up & buy back

    David

    What about the Auditor general’s remarks about the immigration department.

    Frightening is how I describe it.

  2. David Avatar
    David

    Sometimes we forget the role civil servants play by becoming so embroiled in the partisan political angle. Civil servants were involved in many of these decisions operating in departments headed by Permanent Secretaries. In no way are we absolving the politicians but they are part of a whole.

  3. General Lee Avatar
    General Lee

    Politicians have ultimate responsibly and cannot simply pretend that they have no control. At the end of the day it will take politicians with testicular fortitude to reform the civil service.

    This will only occur if we the general populace say enough already and make it an election issue and penalize them if they fail to take meaningful action.

    Who has the authority to initiate action on anything contained in the report?
    I bet it is not a lowly civil servant.

  4. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    I am particularly worried by the part of the report which deals with the Dodds prison not having good book keeping. $1.9 million spent on food alone without proper record keeing. There is no doubt this extends to other areas as well.

    Good accepted accounting practices require proper control procedures be in place to track every penny which is spent. This appears to be lacking at Dodds.

    Every single food purchase which is made ought to be made by means of a properly authorised purchase order. When the items are received on the properly then they ought to be carefully checked for quality, quantity and price. The invoices are then signed off on, the goods placed in inventory. At the end of the day all invoices are entered onto a goods received sheet and sent along to the accounts department. If this simple procedure was followed one would know by the day, week, month or at any given time the value of purchases for food at that institution at. The Auditor General or any one could check the books and be satisfied with what they find.

    They are simple methods which could be put in place to track inventory in storage, a requsitioning process and inventory taking at monthend to determine the book value of inventory in relation to the actual inventory no doubt these are all missing at the Dodds prison hence the mess it finds itself in.

    It is time we had a new head of Prisons. Too many things are going wrong.

  5. General Lee Avatar
    General Lee

    Simplicity is not something you will find easily in government departments.
    Too many people in too many areas, have too little responsibilities, so when things go awry it is hard to point a finger or hold anyone accountable.

    This state of affairs has been allowed to exist for so long because the personal benefits that can be derived are limitless for all players.

  6. Hog Squeal Avatar
    Hog Squeal

    (in this case the review would have covered the period of the former government).

    *************************

    This is pure misleading crap and is why Minister Christopher Sinckler might have just cause to posit that even University students do not know what is done in Parliament or how governments works.

    BU highlights that Minister Sinckler might have been right unless there is an attempt to commit a mischief for this so-called – “squeaky clean government,” which promised transparency, accountability and change.

    Listen, misleader!

    The Auditor General’s 2008 Report cover financial year 2008 – 2009, that is to say from April 1, 2008 to March 31st 2009 but certainly up to December 31, 2008.

    The DLP was elected on January 15, 2008 – a mere 15 days into the calendar year. This A-G’s reporting period is therefore under the DLP’s watch.

    Cat got yah tongue!!!

    You therefore need to refer to Section 38. (1) of the Financial management and Audit Act, 2007 – 11, which provides:

    “The Auditor-General shall report annually, as soon as possible and not later than the last day of December following the close of each Financial year, the results of his examination of the accounts and any failure to observe the enactments or other laws of Barbados.”

    When will the DLP and its associates stop telling lies. So much for the DLP will not lie, cheat or steal!!!

  7. Wishing In Vain Avatar
    Wishing In Vain

    While that idiot The Parro in A Suit Greenidge has finally surfaced to the bottom of the facts are his Gov’t was the Gov’t of the day when all the excesses and misspending occurred, cast your shallow mind back to the fiasco with the Prison, the Crab Hill Police Station, The Newton Building, The Immigration and you have the gall to open your mouth and speak a load of crap you have been seen for what you and your lot are a dishonest stealing wicked bunch of crooks headed by the number one in the number two business, Owing and Mottley.

  8. Hog Squeal Avatar
    Hog Squeal

    Oh hartley,

    Then why did “wild bill – Thompson” try to bribe Owen not to speak in the Budget – by calling him at home to tell him that he (Thompson) had a tape of his divorse?

    How low can you sink?

    Thompson’s best idea to date – is that the Arawak Cement Company should put a “WELCOME” sign on its roof so that people coming to Barbados would see.

    What a looser!!!

    Recognising his “political incompetence” and “intellectual weakness,” David Thompson now calls old men out of retirement to help him.

    And he is the Prime Minister!?

    There was a time when PMs in Barbados were bright. My! Look how this country has been D’valued!.

    We have lost our sense of outrage.

    O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason.

  9. David Avatar
    David

    Hog Squeal

    Please try to understand and stop the shouting from your always political biase.

    The Crab Hill Station was originally awarded in 2004 subsequently halted and restarted in 2006 and a higher cost. Please note that the project would have been finally reviewed in the recent AG report but the irregularities would have occurred outside the period covered.

    Be that as it may we place a lot of blame on the civil servants and permanent secretaries.

  10. Hog Squeal Avatar
    Hog Squeal

    First you said:

    (in this case the review would have covered the period of the former government).

    *************************
    That caught my attention hence my first response.

    Now you say:

    “Be that as it may we place a lot of blame on the civil servants and permanent secretaries.”

    My. How have things changed. Are we no longer blaming Ministers? You did when the BLP was in office. So now it is public servants.

    How can this be fear. You people keep moving the gold/goal post when we need to fix the problem.

    The DLP promised CHNANGE. Is this then an admission of Policy failings?

    As regards Crab Hill, the A-G made recommendations. Well “lock-up sombody” then!

    The point remains, when the BLP was in office it was Ministers, now the DLP is in office and the same problems are evident, BU and other now blame public servants, even though the DLP promised change.

    Consider my post for a while before you respond so that you do not talk about political bias.

    +++++++++++++++++

    This country must not loose its sense of outrage.

    O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason.

    Fact are fact. You bale BLP Minister now you seek to shift the goal/gold post.

  11. David Avatar
    David

    @Hog Squeal

    Do a search of BU using the key words ‘civil service’ and ‘auditor general’.

    It is not the first time we have sound off about this issue.

    We want to suggest that the BLP’s position on immigration MAY comeback to haunt you in the expected St. James North by-election.

  12. Hog Squeal Avatar
    Hog Squeal

    david,

    Now that you are talking about the AG’s report, perhaps you could trun to page 78: 3.151 – Ministry of Agriculture.

    Note what the AG wrote at 3.152.

    Note also that last year Agriculture Minister Haynesley Benn said that nothing so can happen under his watch and that if it did, he would resign.

    I wait to see the integrity.

  13. Hog Squeal Avatar
    Hog Squeal

    Sir, as I understand it, this is the BLP’s position on Immigration:

    “The Barbados Labour Party is totally committed to the development of Barbados and that of all Barbadians.

    In this regard, we are concerned about the Ministerial Statement made by the Prime Minister, the Honourable David Thompson, which leaves many concerns unanswered when clarity is critical to ensure that there is no unfortunate backlash to Barbados, Barbadians in the region and even the legal and illegal immigrants who currently reside here.

    It is urgent that the Lead Prime Minister of the CSME, Prime Minister Thompson, show leadership and ensure the urgent settlement of the long-awaited Protocol on Contingent Rights that will settle what benefits Caricom citizens will access if they live in another Caricom country.

    Whatever is done to deal with this issue must be done in a HUMANE AND TRANSPARENT MANNER – and one that does NOT breach the text or the spirit of our Constitution, the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas or indeed the Carciom Charter for Civil Society.
    This must not be an excuse nor a platform for the fostering of intolerance or xenophobia in Barbados.” – Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C., M.P., Political Leader and Leader of the Opposition.

    +++++++++++++++++

    I do not see how such clarity and maturity – can come back to haunt the BLP.

    Am I missing something?

  14. David Avatar
    David

    Like many you continue to confuse a managed migration policy and movement of labour under CSME. Two different actions.

    We wonder how the AG can be so diligent in the analysis given the shambles in the MIS at the Immigration Unit.

  15. ? Avatar
    ?

    I Read with interest the following comment

    “Be that as it may we place a lot of blame on the civil servants and permanent secretaries.” It’s time that Civil Servants tell these Politicians where to get off. Wasn’t the Design and Project Management for the Crab Hill Police Station done by a Private company? wasn’t it their duty to ensure due performance of the contract and necessary quality control? Come on if we are going to apportion blame lets blame all those involved. Wasn’t it the same civil servants MTW, who went and did the rock cut for the and the construction of the footpath weren’t these in the original contract?

    While im not taking sides as to whose watch whatever took place I read with interest the comment regarding the crane and MTW Quite an interesting story to follow, was the lease payments ever made to Government? and where is that crane now?

  16. David Avatar
    David

    @Hog Squeal

    Given the position you hold can you advise if the Leader of the Opposition plans to breathe life into the important committee of parliament known as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)?

    This is one way she can visibly demonstrate she is doing the people’s work. It would be consistent with her call for the government to establish a joint commitee of parliament to confront the current economic challenges.

  17. Hog Squeal Avatar
    Hog Squeal

    The AG said that the Public Service Act – passed by the BLP in December 2007 when the DLP walked-out of Parliament is a “horrible injustice.”

    That Act gives security of tenure to over 3,100 Barbadians who were working in the public service for 3 or more years.

    What is the simple point I am trying to make:

    The BLP has, for the past 70 years – made life better for people, whether bred-and born Barbadians or Caribbean people.

    The humane treatment of people forms part of one’ corevalues.

    It is why the BLP remains a beacon of hope – even to DEMS who now have to guard their pockets and piggy banks from David Thompson and the DLP, while big business like CLICO and the Turf Club – get millions or million written off.

  18. Hog Squeal Avatar
    Hog Squeal

    Sir, as I understand it, the Committee has been meeting!

    Ask the Clerk or the Auditor General.

    How do you think the Estimates for the Auditor General’s Department were approved?

  19. Hog Squeal Avatar
    Hog Squeal

    I have to check a source for confirmation, but on Friday, December 5, 2008, the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition met with the Auditor General, a member of his staff and the Deputy Clerk of Parliament – in her capacity of Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, in the Conference Room of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.

    I am also told that a series of Meeting were held since then.

    Still, this is not the issue. The issue is:

    Where is the “CHANGE” the DLP promise? What we are seeing is “bare old-style politics” whereas the DLP promised change.

  20. Hog Squeal Avatar
    Hog Squeal

    David here is what the Public Accounts Committee Act, provides at Section 8.

    The Committee shall

    (a) prepare a report on the performance of its duties in respect of
    each financial year; and

    (b) lay the report in each House of Parliament.

    ++++++++++++++++

    Here is what the law provides at Section 5.

    5. (1) The Committee shall meet at least once within every 6 months and may meet at such other times as the Committee, by resolution, determines.

    ++++++++++++++++++

    Once every six months David.

    I think we should more panic about the economy than the PAC which has met about four times thus far. That is more than the law requires.

    I say that the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition should be congratulated for the seriousnes she attaches to the People’s Business.

  21. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    All the prison boss has to do is to purchase an inventory management system of which they are many types in the market place and train his staff in its use

    If the boss up there is too cheap to purchase one then he can use simple old fashion bin cards to keep score on the movement of inventory into and out of the storeroom. This in tandem with a manual requisition system and frequent double checks will ensure that the inventory is safe. Things have a way of disppearing at prisons in Barbados. I read that in a book called “Hell in Barbados” by Terry Donaldson who was an inmate in Barbados.

  22. Hog Squeal Avatar
    Hog Squeal

    What needs to be done – is written on the wall in capital letters, yet a weak Prime Minister David Thompson calls old men – who are not well – out of retirement from active politics – to help him run the country.

    A serious confession for Mr. Thompson to make – that old man who are not well and have retired from active politics – are times more competent and intellectually sharp, than David Thompson is.

    Why does David Thompson not do the country a favour and call election – unless the DLP is so power hungry and has determine that it has not yet had its fill at the trough – that it wants to hold on to power at any and all cost.

    I say that Barbados must not loose its sense of outrage.

    Unfortunately, we seem to be developing a tolerance for cruel and inhumane torture, even though there is a better way.

    O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason.

  23. Avatar
    Anonymous

    The Parro in A Suit

    oH MY GOSH !!

    PARO IN A SUIT
    HA HA HA HA LOL LOL LOL

  24. Hog Squeal Avatar
    Hog Squeal

    Yes!

    But I still say that Barbados must not loose its sense of outrage.

    Unfortunately, we seem to be developing a tolerance for cruel and inhumane torture, even though there is a better way.

    The BLP has proven that it is: “Better for Barbados, by far.”

    O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason.

  25. Negroman Avatar
    Negroman

    Hog Squeal
    You are posting a lot of hog wash.It seems that you and your discredited party headed by the lesbo Mia Mottley with the drunkard Owen Arthur at her side have not come to the realisation that we the people of Barbados have removed that corrupt,wicked bunch of political parasites & despots from office.

    Hog Squeal the drunkard Owen Arthur when he was unfortunately the Prime Minister of Barbados went into the Democratic Labour Party and recruited many former members of the Democratic Labour Party into the Barbados Labour Party.Hog Squeal the political lunatic do you remember Owen Arthur concept of the politics of inclusion.

    There is nothing wrong with Prime Minister David Thompson reaching out to former Prime Ministers and other technical people in Barbados to assist him in the perilous times that we might encounter.

    Owen Arthur refusal to participate in the process proposed by Prime Minister David Thompson shows the hypocrisy,deceit & double standards of the discredited Barbados Labour Party.It was okay for drunking Owen Arthur to infiltrate the Democratic Labour Party and seek out many of its members to participate in his politics of inclusion but it is wrong for David Thompson to ask for assistance from competent people to assist him and this country.

    Hog Squeal you could continue to wince like a pig ready for the slaughter.David Thompson is the Prime Minister of Barbados and he is doing a good job and I am confidence that he will be Prime Minister of Barbados for a very long time.

    Hog Squeal continue to squeal.Your squeals are in vain because the Barbados Labour Party will be slaughter in the General Elections.

  26. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    HOG SQUEL

    “Why does David Thompson not do the country a favour and call election”

    The members of the Barbados Labour Party really miss having their hands in the cookie jar. They now have to draw down from the millions they have stashed away in off shore accounts and they don’t like it at all.

    A news article on radio today stated that the former Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, had amassed a multi million dollar fortune since 2003. One can only guess at the fortune of Barbados Labour Party members who were in office for fourteen years.

  27. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    CC Cadogan

    “Things have a way of disappearing at prisons in Barbados”
    ********************
    Funniest line today

  28. Johnny Postle Avatar
    Johnny Postle

    Many Barbadian’s are sucking salt trying to make ends meet; and these theiving, lieing, deceitful politicians are rich beyond their wildest dreams laughing at us. One such arrogant son of B is NL. Of all the crooks to benefit off tax payers backs, I hate him the most.

  29. St George's Dragon Avatar
    St George's Dragon

    Back to the subject. What the Auditor General’s report has highlighted is either incompetence or just plain fraud. The most worrying thing is that the civil servants who carried these things out or allowed them to be carried out on their watch, are still in their posts.

    I have a suggestion which should appeal in the current climate where the standard of public service provision is being questioned. Lets pay the civil servants if they do their jobs. So if a Ministry has been criticised by the Auditor General, lets pay the head of that Ministry if the issue has been addressed in 6 month’s time. If it hasn’t, replace them.

  30. Knight of the Long Knives Avatar
    Knight of the Long Knives

    I second that Johnny Postle and then O$A who claims to only have $350K in the bank. Lying, tiefing bastards.

  31. Hog Squeal Avatar
    Hog Squeal

    With Prime Minister Thompson calling sick-old-men out of retirement to help him manage the economy because he (david thompson) does not know what he is doing, I must say that I agree with the caption, which has been appropriately place on the DLP’s column in today’s Barbados advocate:

    “Who is in Charge.”

    Barbados is slipping. Instead of being on a Pathway to Progress,” as alleged by david thompson, the DLP has placed this country on: “The Pathway to Poverty.”

    Barbados is now knocking on the back-door of the IMF. The DLP is truely poor-rakey.

  32. Johnny Postle Avatar
    Johnny Postle

    Hog squeal you could really shut ya friggin mouth and trap all the hog jobby you spewing. This country has been plunged into this predicament by very bad policy decisions by the last administration and moreso by the global economic crisis.

    The Prime Minister needs help not insults to add to the injuries afflicted by this crisis. This crisis does not need “politricks” and “politicks.” This crisis needs all the help that can be mustered.

    The David Thompson led government might not have the intellectual shrewdness of the former government but they certainly can brag that they are not “yet” as corrupt, arrogant, lying and victimising as the BLP led government. You really think Barbadians dumb not to see how they are being shoved in a corner with out any quick assistance to help in their struggles and to keep them above the poverty line. They know the red tape is set for them whilst the green light is given to those with “the might”.

    Successive governments continue to look after ‘the family in the circle’ in their quest to live lavishly and comfortably.

    Both administrations are greatly lacking in integrity and as a result Barbadians are on the receiving end of their impaired visions.

  33. Knight Templar Avatar
    Knight Templar

    Johnny Postle // May 30, 2009 at 9:50 am

    Hog squeal you could really shut ya friggin mouth and trap all the hog jobby you spewing.

    This country has been plunged into this predicament by very bad policy decisions by the last administration and moreso by the global economic crisis.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++

    The above is a classic examply why the DLP is “intellectually weak.”

    Often people who have difficulty expressing themselve use vulgar language. It is a character flaw.

    It could either be social (how one is socialised) and the environment in which one is bred, grew-up or two, psychological (poor self-image; a weak vulue system and influence by both the internal and external environment and the company one keeps) the DLP.

    Having established a social and psychological deficiency – no response is necessary, except to say that the global financial crisis has done Barbados and the DLP favour – hence less pressure on balance of payments.

    This is complex. I would expect you to understand because it is clear that the DLP does not. This is the predicament in which the DLP finds itself.

    Even with Clico’s millions, the DLP was only able to entrap a mere 8,000 persons but succeeded in purchasing the government, but now lacks the political and intellectual competence to run the country.

    That the DLP now turns to gimmicks – is its trademark.

  34. David Avatar
    David

    Last week we had reason to question Hog Squeal/Dark Knight/Boar Hog/Knight Templar on the frequency of meetings held by the Public Accounts Committee since the BLP has been in Opposition. We also indicated that the Director of Public Prosecutor has a role to play in prosecuting matters brought to light by the Auditor General.

    In today’s Sunday Sun we note with interest that the AG has commented that his office has been frustrated for years to get requested documentation. He confirmed that the DPP, Director of Finance and the Public Accounts Committee MUST work together to do the PEOPLE’s work. We get so hang up being partisan sometimes that we forget that the civil service has a big part to play in the process of governance of this country.

  35. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ David

    This must surely be one of the most telling examples of the level to which we have sunk as a country – when the official records could consistently demonstrate systematic stealing and incompetence at the highest official level, on an ongoing basis, and there is relatively stony silence from the church, the business community, the NGOs, the professional groups, the press, and most clearly, the opposition.

    David, I tell you there is no hope for us!!
    What future what?!?

    What bothers me most is my own suspicion that the main reason for the stony silence is the reluctance by those in glass houses to pelt big rocks. In other words, this high level stealing is simply a reflection of our general society – and the fact that an equally diligent audit -of practically ANY operation in this country -would unearth similar corruption…… and we all know it.

    Why do you think that so many entities are so far behind in their audits? …they are simply waiting for the ‘heat’ to cool off…. and many of those that ARE audited by their friends and partners in the ‘audit firms’ just have creative methodologies to cover the schemes.

    We should all feel shame as Bajans…

    the only area of pride being the upright, fearless and brave stance of the Auditor General, who is surely a special civil servant.

  36. maricris magpale Avatar
    maricris magpale

    will you please send me the result of my DLP exam last September,,,,
    I’m looking forward for your response…
    thanks………and more power!

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