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2020 Auditor General Report – Time to Fire Senior Public Servants

Note that your ace investigator has ever been known to tread carefully, but, a large part of the AudG [Auditor General Report] lack of audits stems from many years from 2008 on, when several of these public bodies never filed a single annual report. The backlog was huge, and some like the Urban Development Corporation has apparently decided “forget them”, and have gone ahead with ’18-20, even though 07-17 remain outstanding. The solution is you fire the senior employees who had responsibility for such reports, withhold pensions for cause, and let them counter sue for wrongful dismissal and explain to a court, not some two bit enquiry, WHY the reports were not filed. But dat cant happen here in dis country, Dat is some stinkin’ colonial construct called accountability.

BU Commenter NorthernObserver

A new Barbados Labour Party (BLP) government same shitty comments written by the Auditor General Report. In 2018 the Public Finance Management Act was passed to attempt to hold state agencies accountable for up-to-date financial statements. Joke, the government of Barbados have been ignored by the majority of state agencies if the recent Auditor General Report is read. What is the purpose of enacting legislation that is useless to adding value to a process?

The blogmaster took the opportunity to reread the 2018 BLP Manifesto and Covenant of Hope documents in  which all manner of grandiose promises are to be found about improving the public service. Three years later if we are to measure the success of public sector reform by the financial indiscipline and malfeasance reflected in the Auditor General’s recent report, another F is easily scored.

Time to fire seniors public servants who head these agencies for non performance. Let us start with the Director of the NIS.

2020 Auditor General Report

112 responses to “2020 Auditor General Report – Time to Fire Senior Public Servants”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    https://barbadosunderground.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/auditor-geberal-meme.jpeg

  2. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    Enuff June 5, 2021 10:54 AM #: “On the AG Report, how many posting have read the report and sought to determine progress or lack thereof by comparing the 3 reports issued since 2018?”

    @ Enuff

    Ironically, this morning, I attempted to ask NorthernObserver a similar question, but refused to do so.

    Because, based on some of the comments, it’s clear some people either did not read the current and previous reports or did not understand what they read.

    I’ve read where concerns raised by the Auditor General since 2017, have been repeated in subsequent reports, because supporting documentation to substantiate the transactions were not presented for review by the respective government departments to facilitate and complete the audit for that period.

    As such, those matters would remain outstanding concerns in subsequent audits until the supporting documentation is found and the audit completed.

  3. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @Artax
    Sadly it goes back further than 2017.
    All a waste of time and money. A pappy show.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    The buck stops with the incumbents. Fix it!

  5. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @enuff
    Why don’t you explain the progress since 2018? It would help those of us who have noted some progress with the Caves, several schools, and where entities unable to reconcile the past, have begun submitting current reports, leaving prior years incomplete.
    Since several of the smaller entities have been up-to-date within 2 years, and before 2018, maybe you could focus on the larger ones. The NIS, QEH, Transport and Housing entities would be a good starting point.

  6. David Avatar
    David

    And Four Seasons.

  7. David Avatar
    David

    @NO

    Interesting Corey Layne on the talk show has pointed to the Financial Management Audit Act which gives the AG the power to charge monie owing to public servants.

  8. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    This made the rounds all last week…nowhere to hide for the corrupt.

    “Gm: My friends, comrades and good citizens of Barbados. Do not be sidetract about the recent video of gun violence and crime in Barbados. We all know that crime has taken over this society like leaves falling from a tree in the season of Fall. We need to play attention to the Auditor General report and its comments about fraud, corruption, misappropriation of funds and misleading information about transfer of government assets that falls within the authority of the Minister of Finance and the Director of Finance & Planning. Please note, the Director is a Certified General Accountant. In addition, why publish a video of that nature at this time in the middle of the Auditor General Report when Peter Ram publicly stated it was done a year ago. Let us not be sidetrack by this well taught out BLP plan and its operatives in the music industry to shift focus away from a corrupt government, get the majority of barbadiañs to jump on the band wagon of condemnation, except for a selected few who can see through the hypocrisy and the public relations propaganda. The DLP is out of office, a BLP government is at the helm. Within three years in office, millions of dollars in transfers cannot be accounted for, assets sold, transferred to other companies or dissolved but no paper trail or titled as to who own the assets whether government, or a highly contributor to the election campaign of the BLP. What are some of the critical issues missing from the report, an audit to identify the true owners of the SSA garbage trucks and the leaseing arrangements, the alleged BD$15 million contract in professional services that was never tendered for the demolition of the old National Insurance Building and the Fire Station at Probyn Street. The contract for the Caves of Barbados Ltd and Private Public Sector Partnership for the airport that was never laid in Parliament. This is the government that told Barbadians they have a new shepherd that will lead them by the still waters. For those of you who like to research and read, compare the 2018 and 2019 Auditor General Reports with this current one and you are sure to have what bajans would say, “Piss Your Self” it is difficult to beleive that within three years of office this level of mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds can occur. The current PM words, “Not bout Hay” or “Not Under my Watch”. John King said, the last auditor general report was the worst thing he has ever read and lock them up, Kirk Humprey describe it as embarrassing and dont deserve to be laid in Parliament, the others ministers join the choir. We now have a 2020 report, and it can only be assumed their chairs in Parliament and the Senate are strong enough to hold the weight and the AC unit with its extractors and ventalators are in good working order to extract the air that is going to pass while reading, it is not going to be a pleasant smell. Where is the transparency, accountability and paper trails of good goverance. We cannot allow White Oak to just pass way. Clearly from this report, White Oak and its directors has a lot to answer for about its dealings with government debt and assets. The DLP is not in office, whom do they blame, covid, volcanic dust or restart they national anthem, “The Lost Decade”. My fellow barbadians dont be sidetract we are all ware of the gun related problems in Barbados, we are also aware that the AG and his highly paid advisers have no answers. Our public finances are in disarray. As Barbadians continued to be fed an IMF diet, weight loss will come naturally for some as well as weight gain for others. The Auditor General Report say in simple language, if this BLP government give you a hand shake, make sure your five fingers are still on. We are not in this together, “Many hands make light work, dont worry we got this one, “Gimma thee Vote and Watch Ma.” Mia cares.”

  9. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Fix what…what is there to fix now that these have made it that much worse, they must have gotten INFECTED by the big red bag of evidence of corruption they had against DLP and maloney..

    .everything is now EVEN MORE CORRUPT….

    EVEN MORE THEFTS from the population…..in 3 short years…

    they better find the IMF money….if they went dipping their THIEVING HANDS into it.

    i told the people already that they are NOT responsible for any debt DBLP incurred when TIEFING BILLIONS OF THEIR DOLLARS…their children and grandchildren ARE NOT TO REPAY ANY OF IT…

    that’s for the corrupt in the parliament and the dangerous minorities TO REPAY …they tief it, it’s THEIR DEBT..

    don’t know who any of these lowlife thieves think they are.

  10. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Northern
    Lol…why should I? Fuh wunna to cuss me blue..no suh.

    David
    The Aud Gen can be a drama queen sometimes. I’ve said this even under the Dems.

  11. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    To some, it is just a game
    The quick answer

  12. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Look what social media is thinking

    The Bajan Public duped: Massive Fraud

    The Auditor-General’s timely and anticipated report is a clanger. It has blown the lid off this government’s hypocrisy. These were the people that promised the Bajan people ‘vote and watch muh’ but what we have seen is disgusting and shameful. The Auditor-General is a true Bajan patriot. I tip my hat off to him. The depths of fraud and lies perpetrated upon the Bajan people are without precedent. It is blatant and now seems to be endemic in our system.

    The PM cannot hide from this one. She is the one that said anything big must come through her. This is ‘big’ Prime Minister. It involves millions upon millions of taxpayers’ money either siphoned off, unaccounted for, disappeared, or in the pockets of people in positions of power and authority. PM, there is something quite abhorrent about what the AG has revealed. It has shown our system is broken and now firmly in the position of a banana republic.

    I know some of you will think I am a little harsh. But I wish I could say how I truly feel on this Social Media page. It cannot be written here. I do not care if you are a politician, party, individual, organisation, or group; when you put your hands in taxpayers’ hard earn cash and treat it like it’s your personal bank account, you should be outed. Barred from political life or responsibility for at least ten years. This fraudulent behaviour must be stamped out. We must demand standards from our political and civil leaders.

    We cannot be on one hand chastising Lil Rick for some silly over-the-top video, that is filled with bravado and unnecessary gangsterism, but refuse to say anything about the millions unaccounted for. This will have an impact far greater than some stupid, self-indulgent, in poor taste, video.

    In Barbados, the working class is always voraciously castigated for any imperfections. While I think Lil Rick’s video was distasteful, only a small minority of Bajan youth would take up this bravado and they are already in the game. The video merely reinforces for them, their lived experiences. But the vast majority of Bajan youth would take Lil Rick’s pantomime video with a pinch of salt. They know reality from make-believe. They are not stupid.

    This video has become an orchestrated distraction. The government’s new black ops unit has gone to work diverting attention. Where is the outrage from the clergy, civil leaders, cultural icons, and others in a position of authority and responsibility? I cannot hear them. They, like the PM, have high-tailed it to the church either to hide or for solace. I notice the PM now wants to work with the church after over three years in power, on social issues. The church it now seems has become her veil to cover her from this huge transgression perpetrated on the Bajan people.

    This is only for me the beginning of speaking out on the massive fraud the Auditor-General has highlighted. How could those who claim to care, allow the Bajan public to be treated with such gigantic deceit? Community Projects, land, accounts all gone missing and there is no reasonable explanation. The government must immediately call in an external authority to investigate these matters.

    However, I want to know one thing and the government must answer the Bajan public on this matter. With such huge gaps in our audit, how was the government’s evaluation for the IMF calculated? Because if the auditor-General has uncovered such major discrepancies from their audit, then the figures given to the IMF would have to be incorrect. This whole thing has sullied our reputation. It makes me as a Bajan feel as if we are joining the ranks of the unethical and unscrupulous.

    Fb

  13. John A Avatar
    John A

    The report now is more of a guestimate than an audit. Truth is they are too many glaring holes now to arrive at any real opinion of where we truly are financially.

    When you factor in all the unaudited information and the unaccounted for spending, along with the income due that is uncollectable to the state, how could one in a real world speak to this as a financial report?

    Dont get me wrong i support the AG for his perseverance, but to be honest we have reached the point where these reports are so off they are practically meaningless as a financial yardstick.

  14. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @enuff
    It was you who suggested comparing the reports post 2018. I did. I could find little different than what I mentioned. In fact this last report contained more irrelevant “filler” than prior ones. A status report on all those entities the AudG should be auditing, and where they are in providing his office with the required information.
    Given your comments I must have missed something? Fill me in?

  15. David Avatar
    David

    Govt called to account

    Accountant pushing for answers to Auditor General’s report
    AN ACCOUNTANT is calling on Government to tell Barbadians what has happened to unaccounted money flagged in the Auditor General’s Report.
    Olujimi Clarke, a former auditor known for provoking robust public discussion with his frank social media posts, was part of the panel on Starcom Network’s Sunday Brass Tacks radio call-in programme yesterday tackling youth, education, crime and governance, among other areas.
    “For a very long time, a lot of things have gone unnoticed and a lot of things have gone unsaid. My mission is to raise awareness and to get people to start holding persons in power accountable. We are the ones who have put them there, and as the Prime Minister rightfully said, ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’,” he said.
    Clarke was commenting on the latest report of Auditor General Leigh Trotman where he found “doubtful disbursements” in the Poverty Alleviation Fund which was established to help the poor.
    A special audit from April 1, 2007 to July 31, 2019, requested by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, revealed the $24 million paid out from the fund included monies for mortgage arrears, a marriage seminar and sponsorship of shows.
    It also showed that after $620 843 was disbursed for the Urban and Rural Development Commissions to construct eights houses, none had been built, while $2.16 million was paid to four contractors and nearly $300 000 to consultants, but there was no evidence of written contracts.
    The probe also found that there were Constituency Council accounts still operating even though the Department of Constituency Empowerment was discontinued three years ago. Trotman said he had received statements for 15 of the 30 councils, with an aggregate amount of the sums on the accounts exceeding $100 000.
    Lack of response, clarity
    Clarke said he chose to speak out because he believed voters, irrespective of party, had a responsibility to keep those in Government accountable.
    Youth leader Tahir Bulbulia, who was moderating the show alongside Corey Lane, said the lack of response and clarity on the Auditor General’s report was an issue.
    “We need to know where our money is going and how our money is being spent. At the end of the day it is tough for all of us out there. We really need to ask these questions, get some answers on it and really look to see what the serious issues are in this country,” he said.
    Paul Clarke, an aspiring actor, said transparency was necessary as a lot of taxpayers’ dollars went into Government, so citizens should know exactly where they were going.
    However, Lane explained the funds were not managed by politicians, but by public officers.
    “According to the provisions in our laws, when money is misappropriated it can be garnered from the public officer’s salary. I don’t think that has ever been utilised, but if we want accountability, we must say to ourselves the persons who are causing the money to go in the wrong direction should be accountable and hence pay back,” he said.
    Olujimi disagreed, stating there was a lack of proper accounting procedures in place and a lack of supporting documentation for transactions, which was apparent after browsing Trotman’s 113-page document.
    “The ministers in each ministry are the heads of these same Government entities. I am a firm believer that what starts from the top trickles down to the bottom. If you do not have proper governing systems at the top, how can you expect the output to be any better than what has come from the top? I think Government needs to put a very strong focus on proper accounting policies and procedures, because there is a lack of internal controls, no accountability on anybody’s part, and it is at the expense of taxpayers,” he said.
    (RA)


    Source: Nation

  16. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Here is a govt that recently gave plenty acres of land away to big business in and outside of Barbados right under the peoples nose and not one had the nerve to question
    Now three years later after givt worked and passed all kinds of laws without transparency there is a hue and cry to what happened
    Wanna deserve the dog bites wanna getting

  17. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    The Bajan Public duped: Massive Fraud

    The Auditor-General’s timely and anticipated report is a clanger. It has blown the lid off this government’s hypocrisy. These were the people that promised the Bajan people ‘vote and watch muh’ but what we have seen is disgusting and shameful. The Auditor-General is a true Bajan patriot. I tip my hat off to him. The depths of fraud and lies perpetrated upon the Bajan people are without precedent. It is blatant and now seems to be endemic in our system.

    The PM cannot hide from this one. She is the one that said anything big must come through her. This is ‘big’ Prime Minister. It involves millions upon millions of taxpayers’ money either siphoned off, unaccounted for, disappeared, or in the pockets of people in positions of power and authority. PM, there is something quite abhorrent about what the AG has revealed. It has shown our system is broken and now firmly in the position of a banana republic.

    I know some of you will think I am a little harsh. But I wish I could say how I truly feel on this Social Media page. It cannot be written here. I do not care if you are a politician, party, individual, organisation, or group; when you put your hands in taxpayers’ hard earn cash and treat it like it’s your personal bank account, you should be outed. Barred from political life or responsibility for at least ten years. This fraudulent behaviour must be stamped out. We must demand standards from our political and civil leaders.

    We cannot be on one hand chastising Lil Rick for some silly over-the-top video, that is filled with bravado and unnecessary gangsterism, but refuse to say anything about the millions unaccounted for. This will have an impact far greater than some stupid, self-indulgent, in poor taste, video.

    In Barbados, the working class is always voraciously castigated for any imperfections. While I think Lil Rick’s video was distasteful, only a small minority of Bajan youth would take up this bravado and they are already in the game. The video merely reinforces for them, their lived experiences. But the vast majority of Bajan youth would take Lil Rick’s pantomime video with a pinch of salt. They know reality from make-believe. They are not stupid.

    This video has become an orchestrated distraction. The government’s new black ops unit has gone to work diverting attention. Where is the outrage from the clergy, civil leaders, cultural icons, and others in a position of authority and responsibility? I cannot hear them. They, like the PM, have high-tailed it to the church either to hide or for solace. I notice the PM now wants to work with the church after over three years in power, on social issues. The church it now seems has become her veil to cover her from this huge transgression perpetrated on the Bajan people.

    This is only for me the beginning of speaking out on the massive fraud the Auditor-General has highlighted. How could those who claim to care, allow the Bajan public to be treated with such gigantic deceit? Community Projects, land, accounts all gone missing and there is no reasonable explanation. The government must immediately call in an external authority to investigate these matters.

    However, I want to know one thing and the government must answer the Bajan public on this matter. With such huge gaps in our audit, how was the government’s evaluation for the IMF calculated? Because if the auditor-General has uncovered such major discrepancies from their audit, then the figures given to the IMF would have to be incorrect. This whole thing has sullied our reputation. It makes me as a Bajan feel as if we are joining the ranks of the unethical and unscrupulous.

    Fb

  18. David Avatar
    David

    Twiddle D versus Twiddle B

  19. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    @ David

    That the direction a ‘particular side’ wants steer the discussion.

    Recall Mr. Skinner made a comment on another blog in reference to “……..$24 million destined for poor Black people cannot be seriously accounted for according to the Auditor General.”

    Why don’t we have a rational discussion about this situation?

    Based on some of the comments on the report I’ve read so far, I’m wondering how many ‘BU bloggers’ actually took the time to read and understand the report before commenting on it, or posting uninformed opinions to BU, from people on Facebook who obviously did not read it as well?

  20. David Avatar
    David

    @Artax

    Many people will pass on digging into the details of the report because in their minds it is more of the same. It does not matter many of AG comments refer to issues brought forward. People are fed up!

  21. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    @ David

    As I mentioned in my previous contribution, Mr. Skinner raised the issue of “……..$24 million destined for poor Black people cannot be seriously accounted for according to the Auditor General,” on another blog.

    When told there was a blog dedicated to the Auditor General’s report, rather the bringing his concerns here, so we could discuss them, he preferred to sarcastically apologised, while ‘saying,’ “carry on smartly.”

    I always thought debating meant engaging in serious discussion of a topic and opposing views. If you don’t understand someone opinion you ask them to explain, or question the rationale behind that opinion, explain why and bring present a different perspective.

    But, it appears as though some people on BU seem to believe we should debate the issues they want to debate, in the manner they want to debate them. So, if I ask a question or disagree with a comment, someone in a subsequent contribution would snidely refer to me as an apologist, pretending to be neutral and that they “are dealing with very sophisticated propagandists.”

    To be considered neutral and correct is bore the forum with the SAME rhetoric to EVERY topic, even when some of the comments have gone into the realm of absurdity.

  22. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Finding money and land missing is not being “a drama queen” contrary to what fowl Slaves who boast about not living on the island thinks….told yall the Slaves are the main problem and definitely enemies of the Black population…they condone thefts and everything that is bad against the people…as long as it’s the only two letters in the alphabet.. D & B… that they know……doing the TIEFING….

    that’s why an international forensic audit needs to take place to see how many yardfowls have been laundering BILLIONS of dollars in US, UK, Canada, Europe, Central and South America,the Mediterrean and everywhere else, they are TOO SLIMY and fraudulent not to volunteer to launder money stolen from the people for decades and decades..

    time to reel in those deceitful, fraudulent yardfowls who enable and condone corrupt governments..

  23. David Avatar
    David

    @Artax

    So many on the blog come with too many agendas and are happy to frame comments with a narrow perspective. There is not tolerance to open debate and flex on positions if commonsense demands it.

  24. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    William….it’s all coming to a head, they opened a container of MAGGOTS and when said maggots started CRAWLING ALL OVER THEM…they ran for the hills……not a peep out of any of them since….it appears that maggots don’t like maggots…

    we await the GRAND FINALE,..and the account of the people’s money that all of them from 1966 believe in their evil hearts belong to them….especially those vicious minorities.

    now they are waiting to see if things blow over and everyone forgets…but not this time, those with more than 2 brain cells are waiting for them too…

  25. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Artax
    Mr. Skinner is not one who engages in foolishness. On many occasions, I have seen interventions and injections in discussions, that bore no relevance to the the issue.
    On this occasion, I merely made a light hearted comment , a rather relaxed play on words and I was mildly rebuked.
    I took the opportunity to offer an apology and move on.
    I commented on the AG’s report in the appropriate blog, when I said that the shit was going on for forty years or more in some form or other.
    Listening to the distinguished and brilliant Mr. Straghan today on Brasstacks and concurring with almost 100 % of what he said, I like he , have determined , there is no need for any new Auditor Generals report because and I am in full agreement with him that almost every issue raised in the current AG report , in the outstanding minister’s words ; “ predated” the current administration.
    There is therefore nothing for this administration to answer or defend. One will have to wait , until sometime, maybe forty years or so or never, to hear about all the malfeasance that roamed Bim
    for the period 2008 to 2018.
    There is absolutely nothing in the AG report that causes any concern about the current administration. On this score, I need no further to debate the AGs report.
    because it will be a waste of time , in that the former administration ,is not around to answer the teefing and corruption, that was executed under the very worst government ever inflicted on this country.
    I , as a concerned citizen, is delighted to learn that all those days are now forever behind us. In fact. I often wonder what the hell the Auditor General does these days. He really has nothing to do. There is no teefing, no corruption, no sweetheart deals
    The Duopoly has finally got it right !

  26. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Having an auditor general report is the only way the people would get a view of what goes on with govt and the high level of ineptneness and incompetence involved
    It also sends a message about the trustworthiness of govt and the high level of corruption involved
    The report is necessary
    Can’t imagine not having one and allowing the govt to do as it dam pleases with the people money without any form of accountability or transparency
    The report is the only report that gives the people closer look at runaway govt

  27. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Where has our taxpayer’s money gone?

    The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) waited with bated breath to hear if the Government of Barbados would answer the Auditor General’s report. We deliberately gave them time. After all, this Government wastes no time getting before the cameras.
    To date, there have been two press conferences; the last of which was with the Minister responsible for Home Affairs and still not one word about the glaring discrepancies in the report.
    One of which is the controversial Four Seasons Hotel where millions of our taxpayer’s monies were at stake.
    The Auditor General was quoted in Barbados TODAY newspaper asking why the entire investment was written off.
    “In the 2018-2019 financial year, the entire investment was written off. It has not been clearly established what was the basis of the entire write-off of the investment. It was also not clear what was the nature of the investment relationship Clearwater had with the hotel owners. The investment and subsequent write off could not therefore, be verified by the auditors,” he said.
    Therefore, the people of Barbados have a right to know where the money has gone? And why was this investment valued at $124 million written off.
    Not only do we have the Clearwater issue, but we also have another case of missing money as the British American Insurance company (BAICO) had been issued a $10.7 million in bond support and had a new investment account created.
    However, once again the Auditor General was unclear about this investment as there was an absence of supporting information on the information recorded for the investment transaction.
    Let me break this down for you in layman’s terms: The Auditor General could not find any piece of paper that proved where this money went. There is no evidence, no statements, no documents, nothing to prove where the unaccounted money is.
    Money is unaccounted for! And we cannot get a press conference to state where it is.
    The Auditor General also remains in the dark about why $48, 941 in overdrawn salaries was written off by the Equity Account. He is unclear why this amount was written off with no approval for these write offs was provided for audit inspection.
    Once again: MONEY UNACCOUNTED FOR!
    The Auditor General also was alarmed that Government had dishonoured cheques totalling $6.7 million dollars which were not seen in the dishonoured cheques register. So where has the unaccounted funds gone to?
    This is a lot of money that cannot be accounted for. Particularly only three years into the term of a Government that campaigned on accountability and transparency.
    Under law as it pertains to the dishonoured cheques it requires that an accounting officer examine the Dishonoured Cheques Register of the department not less than once a month and ensure that clearances of the cheques are pursued, and recoveries are effective.
    Speaking to Barbados TODAY, the Auditor General is reported to have said: “The omission of pertinent information from the Dishonoured Cheques Register impedes the department’s ability to determine whether the dishonoured cheques are actually outstanding,” he said.
    The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) calls on the Government to keep its promise of transparency and inform the country, and the Auditor General on where our money has gone. Why isn’t there documentation; why hasn’t the reconciliation of the Central Bank been done? Why was Clearwater written off, why is it that we have overdrawn salaries? Why is it we have not heard a peep from this administration on this issue?
    Certainly, a government that has never delayed in holding a Press Conference or media briefing and has claimed transparency and care about the citizens should have no problem responding to the questions that have been posed by the Auditor General and the citizens of Barbados.

    Verla De Peiza
    President of the Democratic Labour Party
    2021-06-07

  28. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    The AG may be quite serious about his job. This is surprising as the GOB has not taken him seriously for quite some time.

  29. David Avatar
    David

    The rules of procedure says that when the AG presents his report to parliament it should be reviewed and the Public Accounts Committee take charge. Will end this comment right there.

    #politicalclass

  30. David Avatar
    David

    Silence broken on Auditor General Report by Minister Straughn

    https://barbados.loopnews.com/content/silence-broken-auditor-general-report-minister-straughn

  31. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Not buying t from Straughan the excuse about Mia as lawyer for the Four seasons would have recuse her self from the decision making in reference to the 124 million give away
    Mia as minster of finance have a duty as to how taxpayers money is spent
    Furthermore she once told Barbados that big works come through her
    Indeed this matter was a big work and the final decision on the 124 million would have to been given her stamp of approval

  32. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Yep….she did say for everyone to hear….”no big works cahn happen bout here without me.” lawd..

  33. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    “Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn, denied that the Mia Mottley administration was responsible for a number of irregularities outlined in the latest report to Parliament from the Auditor General.”

    this is the best time to ask, wuh happen to the BIG RED BAG of EVIDENCE of DLP corruption with maloney and they were hot and ready to lock him (as he is directly responsible for the death of the HOLDER child……

    and lock up DLP for all those irregularities aka THEFTS, questionable contracts, aka CORRUPTION…blah, blah, blah…and then some…..oh and that spat with Innotech where all of them were calling each other thieves and corrupt and then shared/gave away another contract…to their corrupt friends.

  34. sidboyce Avatar
    sidboyce

    Anyone counted the number of “NOT” in the report?

  35. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ angela cox June 7, 2021 5:51 PM

    (Quote);
    In the 2018-2019 financial year, the entire investment was written off. It has not been clearly established what was the basis of the entire write-off of the investment. It was also not clear what was the nature of the investment relationship Clearwater had with the hotel owners. The investment and subsequent write off could not therefore, be verified by the auditors,” he said.
    Therefore, the people of Barbados have a right to know where the money has gone? And why was this investment valued at $124 million written off. (Unquote).
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Dear Angela, you boss VD is not as sharp as you think of her.

    She is nothing more than another ‘lawyering’ handmaiden to cover up the mess of corruption practise(d) by the BDLP duopoly playing a game of fair exchange with the Bajan taxpayers simply seen as “Piggy in the Middle”.

    How else would the political class of poor boys and girls get rich unless at the expense of the poor taxpayers?

    If either your VD or the bogus leader of the imaginary Opposition were worth a pinch of their own salt they would be demanding a list of disbursements of that $124 million.

    For they might just stumble across the audit trail showing that a good slice of those millions represents payments in respect of consultancy services to a specific overseas registered firm with close ‘advisory’ ties to a member of the current red sanctum sanctorum.

    The Bishop who has dropped his red cap to become the ‘green’ dummy sitting on the ‘Opposite’ throne as the LOO is himself part of the very cover-up for mess of 30 pieces of Judas-enshrined silver.

  36. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Ryan Straughan think all bajans have short mind
    124million give away is a whopper of money for Mia not to have a hands on control or some kind of influence
    No! bajans does not have short memories
    This is the same Mia who tried denying that she had no influence in her dad tax waiver of upward to 1million dollars in judgements which were lodged against him for monies owing to the Income tax debt
    The issue was brought to.public attention and OSA denied given the request
    However the waiver was done when he was out of the country without OSA given the ok
    Now straughan is sent out to be the clean up man and to do damage control on the 124million write off
    Yes Mia said all big works gotta come through her
    All bajans not foolish

  37. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    That money was given away by Thompson, Mia was the attorney…they were both thisclose..

    i remember the day hearing on the news about government was going to help the devisers and crooks for the scam, i turned to a stranger next to me and said, tell me this fool is not going to pick up taxpayers money and give to these thieves…..the person said, so wuh you tink gine happen, they do it all the time…that was not too long after they were elected…

    problem is the scam grew so big that i have no doubt that it was double or more that amount….so big that no one knows where the money or the property they said they sold to a company which turned out to be Bjerkham……the eyesore, and all the money…both disappeared…..because no one could find the money DLP said they sold it for. either.

    all a pack of thieves who want picking up…

  38. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    If memories are working you will remember the 4 Seasons scam coincided wth the Redject…$9.99 Caribbean flights which turned into 19.99 and then they wanted to dip into the NIS Funds to keep the aircraft in the air, then the airline sunk but the 4 Seasons scam was the gift that kept on giving to everyone BUT THE TAXPAYERS WHO GOT RIPPED OFF…

    i thought all of it was very strange from the beginning and wondered if it was a movie…..looks like it will be a good book though…..😎

  39. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ WARU
    The new strategy is telling the “sophisticated propagandists” what they want to hear: Barbados is corruption free. All the teefing and corruption took place in the “Lost Decade.” These Bees and Dees have done more damage to Barbados than any natural disaster: a pack of politically demented, pathetic empty vessels keeping nothing but noise on BU and elsewhere.
    We must never retreat or surrender to their embarrassing political junk. And to cap it off, they have the balls to play they calling you out. They are not in your streets and you must forgive them. Please continue your mission of defending, informing and educating poor Black people.

  40. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    “Therefore, the people of Barbados have a right to know where the money has gone? And why was this investment valued at $124 million written off.”

    It’s either Verla De Peiza has conveniently lost her memory or opposing just for the sake of opposing.

    Paradise Beach Ltd. secured an 18 month, US$60M (BD$120,000,000) loan from ANSA Merchant Bank, at an interest rate of 6.75%, for the purpose of ‘restarting’ construction of Four Seasons Resort.

    The former DLP administration agreed to guarantee the loan in return for a 20% stake in the project.

    Paradise Beach Ltd. defaulted on the loan and ‘government,’ as guarantor, had to repay the outstanding amount and interest in the amount of $124,329,766.

    Verla was a GOVERNMENT SENATOR when the ARRANGEMENTS were made between the former DLP administration, Paradise Beach Ltd. and ANSA Merchant Bank.

    Why is Verla De Peiza saying “the people of Barbados have a right to know where the money has gone,” when, according to Chapter 2, pages 25-26 of the 2016 Auditor General’s report:

    “This amount ($124,329,766) was subsequently brought to book in the accounts of the Treasury as an account receivable. There has been no movement on this receivable account for the past four (4) years.” [2.49]

    “There is NO information available on whether there might be a need to write down this receivable or WHEN or HOW THIS AMOUNT will be REPAID.” [2.49]

    Did the former administration use tax payers’ money to guarantee a loan for Paradise Beach Ltd., without negotiating the necessary arrangements to recover the funds, if the company reneged on its commitment to repay?

    From whom or what company would the former or current administration recover the outstanding debt, especially if Paradise Beach Ltd. is defunct?

    How can one deem $124,329,766 to be ‘missing,’ when the amount has remained on the ‘books’ and uncollected for ‘several years’………. and ‘yuh doan know who to collect it from?’

  41. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    ****** How can one deem $124,329,766 to be ‘missing,’ when the amount has remained on the ‘books’ as an ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE for ‘several years’………. and ‘yuh doan know who to collect it from?’

  42. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Perfectly explained, Artax. We must be truthful in our criticism. If one has no knowledge of Accounting one should not pretend one does.

  43. David Avatar
    David

    Verla De Peiza is the shadow minister of finance.

  44. David Avatar
    David

    Straughn: Probe ongoing after Auditor General’s report

    THERE IS NO WORD on whether the police will be involved after the Auditor General’s report showed millions of dollars unaccounted for across several ministries.
    The findings by Auditor General Leigh Trotman have been dominating the news for the past week ever since the NATION first broke the news about “doubtful disbursement” from the Poverty Alleviation Fund. Subsequent articles detailed bank accounts still operating in the name of constituency councils after the department responsible for them had been closed down, while concerns were also raised about the Barbados Revenue Authority’s protocols for handling of monies.
    Yesterday Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn put in an appearance on VOB’s Down To Brass Tacks radio call-in programme which he dealt with some of the financial irregularities cited by the Auditor General.
    When questioned as to whether the police had been called in, Straughn said he could not speak to any of the specific incidents as the financial investigations were ongoing, and that was as far as he would go on the matter.
    Part of the programme turned to the stalled multimilliondollar Four Seasons project at Paradise, St Michael, involving the Government-owned company Clearwater Bay Limited, formed in 2010. At least $124 million had been invested by Government through Clearwater. At the time Mia Amor Mottley was part of a legal team advising one of the parties involved in the project.
    Prompted by a call from former minister under the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) administration, Maxine McClean, Straughn said he was not in possession of the file but had no recollection of $400 million being lent to Four Seasons. McClean wanted answers on when the project started, what was the status in 2008 when the Government changed, who was the person charged with getting that project back on track, what was the role of that person in negotiating and coming to an agreement with the former DLP administration, and who was the attorney for the project during that time.
    Straughn responded that the current Barbados Labour Party administration was working to find a path that minimised the fallout to taxpayers.
    “There is no activity going on at the Four Seasons at the moment and I can’t speak to what what was the asset that was tied to the loan, but the reality is that without any activity down there, the ability to repay obviously would be in jeopardy. That is why I said we had to look at what is the best path . . . . When I get the file I will review it very carefully and I will submit the information . . . and I will even come back to the show,” he said.
    He said the practice was that when matters came up before Cabinet that involved any minister, the person would recuse himself or herself from the discussions and decisions. ( AC)

    Source: Nation News

  45. Four Seasons Project – Story of Failure | Barbados Underground

    […] most recent Auditor General Report – see 2020 Auditor General Report – Time to Fire Senior Public Servants – continues to generate the usual concerns engaged annually by the general public. Although […]

  46. Four Seasons Project – Story of Failure | Barbados Underground

    […] commenter Artax offered the following comment on another blog to explain the $124 […]

  47. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    “We must never retreat or surrender to their embarrassing political junk. And to cap it off, they have the balls to play they calling you out.”

    oh they can call me out, but i will spend YEARS PICKING AND PICKING until a thread comes loose….and UNRAVEL THEM…

    i don’t know how much people know about banking, but if someone gets a loan from any institution….COLLATERAL MUST BE HANDED OVER….in some form, tangible or intangible…but the bank wants something to back the loans, and since Barbados has no gold standard, something must be used…

    “All the teefing and corruption took place in the “Lost Decade.”

    that’s the scam they have always run on the country….”:you teef the money, no you teef it and you teef more, we gine lock you up….so try it…i know more bout you….no, i know bout you too.. so try it and see”

    and they have played that TIEF THE PEOPLE’S MONEY GAME…..FOR DECADES, it’s now a blood sport for them, their minority partners are insulated with protection from going to prison as long as their business partners are in the parliament……the people gotta put an end to that AND THEM… get rid of this last group of traitors…or the island CANNOT move forward..

    from listening to people, the electorate IS QUICKLY COMING TO THAT REALIZATION….their days are numbered.

  48. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    @ Donna

    I believe we should not only be TRUTHFUL in our criticisms, but FAIR, reasonable, RATIONAL and BALANCED as well. Even if we run the risk of being labelled as “apologists,” “pretending to be neutral” or “sophisticated propagandists,” by individuals who seem to believe they’re still living in the 1960s and 70s and are using strategies from that era to ‘fight the good fight’ in 2021.

    The same individuals who, on one hand, hypocritically claim to despise the BLP and DLP and keep reminding us about the damage inflicted on Barbados by both political parties……………..

    ……………. yet, on the other hand, their criticisms always seem to ‘favour’ a specific ‘party,’ while the examples they give are always CONFINED to successive tenures of that party.

    They admonish and make snide remarks to people who they believe are ‘apologists’ for the current administration, while defending the ‘oppositionist ‘ and any references to the so called ‘lost decade’ apparently angers them.

    Perhaps these are the reasons why they’re often referred to as ‘disgruntled DEMS.’

  49. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Artax
    Kindly explain what is different about this Auditor General’s Report and all the rest we have discussed on BU since you were a contributor. It matters not who is in office, under the Duopoly, we have seen : skullduggery, and abundance of poor governance. This reached its zenith during the period 2008 to 2018, when it is known that then Minister of Finance failed to ignite the economy and we ended up with several downgrades. I don’t think anybody on BU, except hard defenders of the BLP , who like to brand people , could ever find an article where I defended the the then administration. It is virtually impossible to have any rewarding exercise when the sharp political knives are always drawn.
    The question that engages my mind from time to time is if there is any real hope for our country under the Duopoly. Hard as I try to be optimistic, almost every day, I am confronted by some very hard truths and I conclude that since the period immediately after Independence, we had seen some movement but by 1974, I was basically finished with them all. That is why I run for the No Damn Party and lost my deposit and refused all the enticements to join the Duopoly.
    All I can say to you and all the rest on BU , be you BEES or DEES: Wunnuh deserve to burn in the political hell for what you have done and continue to do to this country especially the poor Black people who you have all abandoned to serve masters such as Mark Maloney and others.

  50. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Ah wonder how they are digesting breakfast, lunch and dinner these days….hope they assimilate in their new environment of people enlightenment AND WOKENESS…. because it’s ONLY NOW BEGUN..

    and will NOT END UNTIL 2023

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