The blogmaster feels an infinity for the Auditor General of Barbados. For many years we have regurgitated a similar message, the need for transparency to how we do business. Some ask what has Barbados Underground blog been able to achieve in its 12 years of existence? The blogmaster responds by saying what has the Auditor General been able to achieve in the decades of that office existence?

The blogmaster is motivated by doing what any civic minded citizen should be minded to do. If the result is that it makes a difference then he will smile, wider. The smile will always be there because a civic minded son or daughter of the soil will always smile when they commit unconditionally to“the cause that lacks assistance, the wrong that needs resistance, for the future in the distance, and the good that we can do”is realised.

Here is the 2018 Auditor General report for those who missed it., The message is the same as it was last year and the many years before. Here is what we also know, it mattered not that the Barbados Labour Party or the Democratic Labour Party were in office. It mattered not that Barbadians are considered a well educated people.

In the 2018 report the Auditor General rapped this new government on the knuckles about the lack of transparency surrounding the restructuring exercise. There is a note about unauthorized spending by the Barbados Police Force. The Central Bank of Barbados and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) were fingered for being behind in the preparation of audited financial statements. Congratulations to the Enterprise Growth Fund, Financial Services Commission, Grantley Adams International Airport and FAir Trading Commission for doing their jobs by declaring current audited financial statements.

Screenshot 2019-07-02 at 04.40.11

190 responses to “2018 Auditor General Report – A Tale of the Same Woes”


  1. @ Hal

    I not too sure what the author of that quote meant there. You will have to seek clarification from him as a result sir.

    All I can tell you is that growth got a + in front it and decline a – sign. Although I hear some in recent years talking about ” negative growth”. I feel that is only a polite word for decline though. Lol

    But as I said I could only add and subtract little bit.

  2. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Charles Skeete

    Thanks for confirming. But the repeaters of the opposite position are not interested in truth nor facts. They are looking for answers that fit in with their view of reality, or an excuse for escaping their responsibilities. And some people thrive on chaos. They like it so.

  3. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    David BU

    Even if taxes are uncollectible for year -1 and year -2 , if the company or person exists in year 0 , what is the difficulty in doing so?


  4. @ Hal.

    On the Oppenheimer question we touched on before I checked but can’t find any information post 2014 for what return they were getting for the NIS net of their fees. So for the last 6 years your guess is as good as mine. The last figure we spoke on of 6% did not state whether that was net of fees or gross return either, so even when a report was given we not sure what it speaks to.

    Then again are we surprised?


  5. @Vincent

    Not defending tax defaulters, however, there is the consideration many companies owing are cash poor.


  6. @ David

    Don’t mind if they cash poor we at VULTURES.COM will take up land, buildings, stock or any other assets not nailed down!


  7. @ John A

    A lot of this is gross ignorance and incompetence, not corruption. We continue to appoint people on the basis of their degrees, not knowledge and experience. I know of a government job that was held up until a certain person graduated from a US university to take up the position.
    The vacancy was not advertised. What I do know is that the person who held the original position (she too was appointed right out of university to an unadvertised position) because she fell out with the minister.
    Rotating mediocrity is the name of the game. We have normalised this kind of behaviour.


  8. @ Hal

    We have and today we are paying the price for it. I remember hearing an old master saying once ” it takes experience to know where bones buried.”

    Back to book smart vs street smart.


  9. @John A

    You should investigate when you have time why WASA in Trinidad had to write of monies due by private sector companies.

  10. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ David BU at 1:33 PM

    The phrase may sound like a piece of wisdom; but taken out of its original context, it is nonsense when applied to the real world. I cannot imagine a company operating for a financial year and no cash flows through it. Did the customers pay with real assets? Did the company pay labour and suppliers of raw materials in quantities of its output? I bet you that same defaulter used cash to finance other activities not relevant to the company’s operations.


  11. @Vincent

    You are aware during the long period of a poorly performing economy during the last decade private sector was asked by the government of the day to absorb the shock by keeping employees on payroll?

  12. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ David BU

    Did the private sector respond positively? If they did it was not reflected in the statistics published by BSS, nor the increase paid by the NIB for redundancies and unemployment benefits over that period. David there are several ways of verifying pronouncements by propagandist. One only has to cross reference figures. There are things that do not add up. Use them as red flags.
    Your auto-correct algorithm working over time again.


  13. There was retrenchment but was there significant movement in the BSS unemployment numbers?

    https://tradingeconomics.com/barbados/unemployment-rate


  14. @ Vincent

    Naughty, naughty. Government asked the private sector to become welfare organisations. The guy is amazing. Do you now see why I bash my head against the wall?

  15. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    David
    That is precisely the point I am making. They cannot be any connection between non payments of tax and keeping on surplus staff.

  16. Vincent Codrington Avatar
    Vincent Codrington

    @ Hal

    I think I should take time out. This is unbelievable.


  17. @Vincent

    There is and you know it. Many companies operate with marginal cash flow, they default on statutory obligations and eventually close down. This point has nothing to do with keeping on employees for longer than the P&l indicate they should.


  18. @ Vincent

    You just do not understand. Sit up and pay attention. Cash strapped companies keep unproductive workers on their books because government asked them to. Then out of loyalty, they go bankrupt. Wow!


  19. @ Mariposa July 4, 2019 12:34 PM

    Barbados cannot once again afford to be ruled by your DLP cavemen.

    The DLP stands for ministers with far substandard intelligence, the underclass, crime, drug trafficking, economic slavery and a rotten welfare state that plunders citizens through taxes.

    It is a fact that Barbados under the DLP has even fallen behind some African countries.


  20. Tron we shall see how much strength the populace can endure for the next five years under the IMF policies
    Maybe you ought to take off your rose color glasses and look among the crowd and waddled through the death and mayhem on the streets since this govt took office before u usher your nonsensical predictions


  21. Mariposa
    July 4, 2019 6:56 PM

    That you have the gall to come on here and talk about the IMF …who do you think caused this mess?


  22. @ Mariposa

    It looks like you are blaming the government for every death that occurs in Barbados.

    You implied that about the mother and son who lost their lives in a recent house fire.

    You were also making subtle, insensitive comments about the government and the couple who rented the jet ski and are lost at sea.

    Today, a 17 year old boy lost his life after he unfortunately fell into a well.

    Are you going to make another insensitive comment about this unfortunate incident and imply the government is responsible too?


  23. Sad today’s tragic story of the boy falling to his death in the well tell a story of big up officials negligence

    https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155993414605989&id=270969375988


  24. Crusoe
    Yes i do have the gall and the right to crticize the IMF austerity measures
    Just for good measure i invite you to take a walk amongst the populace and rub shoulders with the people and listen to their sad story of pain and suffering
    Bro it is not easy having no job govt only interest is paying off govt debt and refusing to give adequate monetary assistance to retrenched workers
    Bro it is not easy
    Now go ahead and spend the next five years telling me how ten years got barbados in this mess
    I all ears duffus


  25. Robert Goren
    Simply ignore my earlier comments
    I made up all of what i said
    Nothing of what i said happened in Barbados
    It was all a dream
    My bad
    My apologies


  26. Robert Goren
    Simply ignore what i said in my earlier comments
    Nothing of what i said happened in barbados
    I made the whole story up
    It was all a dream
    My bad
    My apologies
    Hope u feel better
    But let me warn u it aint going to get better
    The criminal horse has already bolted
    People backs are pushed against the wall


  27. @ Mariposa

    I can’t believe you’re trying to politicize the unfortunate deaths of five people, to support the interest of the DLP and discredit the government.

    You should be ashamed of yourself for as far as stooping to such a new all time low level of yard fowlism and gutter politics ever to be seen on BU.

    And what is more disturbing is that NO ONE on BU or even the blogmaster will call you out for this sick, insensitive act.


  28. @Robert Goren She is right.

    She is spot on.

    She has four more years!

    Truth is the blogmaster to guard our sanity quickly scrolls pass some comments.


  29. @Mariposa,

    How is that Toronto Waterfront property working out for you?


  30. Anybody remember Arch Cot the same principle applies in the death of that boy who fell in the well yesterday
    Bureaucracy gone wrong
    Waiting to see or hear if the PM would visit this family member
    Our people lives matter


  31. I don’t believe this current BLP administration is really interested in addressing the problem of corruption in government.

    I recall on August 14, 2018, while speaking in Parliament, Ronald Toppin questioned an invoice Michael Carrington submitted to BIDC, in the amount of $706,450 for providing legal services relative to sale of a BIDC building at Lot A1 Newton Business Park, Christ Church to Gildan Activewear Properties (BVI) Inc. in 2010.

    It was alleged Carrington wrote a letter to the BIDC in 2011, in which he indicated that at the time the sale transaction was completed, he was NOT REGISTERED with the VAT Division………and REQUESTED the BIDC to pay the VAT Division, ON HIS BEHALF, $92,146 of VAT incurred as a result of the sale and included in his legal fees.

    As a lawyer and Speaker of the House, Carrington had to be AWARE of the VAT laws, which, at that time in 2010, required businesses and individuals providing goods and services over the threshold of $60,000 per annum, to register with the VAT Division.

    Here we have a lawyer, who at the time was obviously earning more than $60,000 per annum, ADMITTING to a government agency he was NOT registered for VAT, but still CHARGED VAT………

    ………..and to “make matters worst,” he wanted that agency to USE $92,146 of its allocated funds……. “TAX-PAYERS’ MONEY”…… to PAY the VAT on his behalf.

    This is almost ONE (1) year since Ronald Toppin made his revelation in Parliament….. and we haven’t heard anything more on the matter.


  32. “Anybody remember Arch Cot the same principle applies in the death of that boy who fell in the well yesterday……”

    Would care to list the similarities between the Arch Cot tragedy and the incident that occurred in the Pine yesterday?


  33. Bureaucracy failed on both occasions
    People lost their lives
    Today the families are hurting because bureaucracy rather protect the haves and throw the have nots to the wolves


  34. How can a well be left exposed without having proper protection and govt officials after being called on numerous times does not do due diligence
    A young man lost his lived and now we have blp supporters pretending to be blind deaf and dumb at the cries of the young man family
    What a god damn shame
    The laws were not meant to protect the rich but also the poor
    In one year this gladiator govt has shown the poor how easy they can be manipulated over a glass of koolaid
    Mia said gimme de vote and watch muh
    Boy she not meking sport
    Nah word coming from her mout on the acceleration of crime and violence
    But rather wear a pretentious mask while rubbing shoukders with the rich ans famous
    What a thing doah


  35. “How can a well be left exposed without having proper protection and govt officials after being called on numerous times does not do due diligence…”

    If ministers are responsible for policy and heads of departments are responsible for administration, how does a well come under the remit of a minister or the prime minister?

    When tenants call NHC’s maintenance department about a housing issue, does maintenance calls management, which in turn calls the PM to tell her something want fixing?

    I’m sure you recall the NHC (Transfer of Terrace Units) Bill 2012, which was first read in Parliament on January 8, 2013 ……… the NHC (Transfer of Tenants) Act provided for the transfer of units owned by the NHC to tenants who have lived in and/or paid in those units for 20 years. How about if those tenants had been proactive?

    And while we’re at it, how about inviting Hammie Lah, Kellman and Stuart on the walk along?

    After all, “a young man lost his lived and now (it seems) we have DLP supporters pretending to be blind deaf and dumb at the cries of the young man’s family, as well,”………..

    ……….. because, rather than being SYMPATHETIC, their only INTEREST, according to another contributor, is POLITICIZING this unfortunate situation.

    A bunch of uncaring, insensitive, unsympathetic, sick bastards.


  36. Mia is not Minister of Tourism
    However she jumped fast into the issue of the two missing jet ski persons
    One would think she might also get herself with all enthusiasm into the well issue vocally asking head of the depts for answers
    After all a live is lost and due dilligence is the optimum word


  37. Well.well
    Govt excuse .they did not have the money to fix the Well
    However all should take nite that govr found or had the money to pay White Oaks and the loans borrowed from rhe IMF
    In barbados it seems as if itb always take tragedy to exposed govt side of the socio economic fence
    Here an innocent life gone and govt declares
    Sorry we did not have the money t0 fix the well
    However inquring minds want to know how and Where did govt find the money to pay White Oaks
    Maybe some blp yardfowl can give or have the answer


  38. Mariposa you are a sick, despicable human being.For even you to come on this blog and try to be political at this unfortunate death is beyond words.My advice, take a chill pill as you are doing the Dems a disservice and Bajans in general.

  39. fortyacresandamule Avatar
    fortyacresandamule

    Mariposa is your typical consummate, dye-in-the-wool politican/ political loyalist as they come. Believe you me, the world is full of people of that mindset. In fact they are dime a dozen. I have seen people with those political temperament even go so far as to blame the government of the day for ‘act of god’ tragedies. Therefore, If someone in BIM were to be fatally struck by lightening tomorrow, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Mariposa would probably indirectly blames the government for the unfortunate soul demise.


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