A few key positions are protected under the Constitution of Barbados like the Director of Public Prosecutions, Judges, Ombudsman, President and of interest THE AUDITOR GENERAL (AG). The AG’s office is setup to ensure financial and accountability into how government is managing the affairs of state.
The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) campaigned in 2018 and 2022 on promises to introduce transparency and accountability policies e.g. strengthening anti-corruption measures, timely financial reporting, freedom of information legislation and of interest, strengthening oversight institutions. The AG’s Office was promised adequate resources and independence to function effectively.
A check of parliament’s website confirmed the last full Auditor General’s report laid in parliament was for the period 2022. As far as the blogmaster is aware no public explanation has been forthcoming from the AG’s Office to explain the reason for the late submission to parliament of 2023 report with 2024 coming due. The AG’s Office was reported to be also performing a Special Audit on the HOPE Housing project.
If the government is committed- as it has advocated many times- to introducing transparency and accountability policies to govern how it conducts the business of the public, it has fallen short. Prime Minister Mia Mottley always explains the reason for an unacceptably large Cabinet is that many hands make light work. After 6 years in office it is a fair criticism to question government’s deliverables regarding transparency and accountability policies.
The inability of the AG’s office to deliver timely reports compromises the public’s ability to hold government accountable. A government that for the last two terms won all the seats in the Lower House. A commitment by the Mottley government to an enhanced governance framework would negate whispers about it being a de facto dictatorship. The absence of freedom of information regulations adds to frustrating the public’s attempt to solicit information. Both political parties have conspired over the years to frustrate the implementation of transparency legislation. It is unfortunate the traditional media and relevant NGOs have not been strident on this issue.
The AG’s office has received support from the public in the past for its attempt to deliver on its mandate. Sadly it has joined the practice of state owned entities it audits like the NISS by issuing late reports. What does the AG office issuing late reports mean?
The AG office is a watchdog agency and its inability to investigate and share finding means it makes it harder to hold public officials accountable.
It adds to growing public cynicism and apathy by Barbadians about government’s commitment to good governance.
How can the best decisions be made by government and stakeholders if timely reports are unavailable, especially financial reports?
If late reporting by the AG’s office becomes the culture it compromises attempts to discover mismanagement and corruption in government, allowing perpetrators to go unpunished. In this scenario, how can any government be seen as credible regarding its commitment to transparency and accountability? Is the Auditor General’s Office being ‘frustrated’ by government by denying it adequate resources? Did the Constitutional Reform Commission report address ‘beefing’ up the AG’s office?
Is it fair for the government to ask citizens to invest in the country by purchasing government bonds as one example and it is unable to oversee a framework of timely reporting, including producing audited financial statements from state owned entities like the NISS?
It is unfortunate governance issues do not excite Barbadians. Are we as educated as we promote ourselves?
The blogmaster invites you to join and add value to the discussion.