The audited financial accounts for the recently held Carifesta X will be released to the public but it may be a little while before this is done.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony told this newspaper that the Auditor General would be examining the accounts, and after this is done, this information will be made available to the populace. The Minister, however, was unable to say how soon this would be done.
The audited accounts for the cricket world cup events in Guyana in 2007 are yet to be released despite repeated promises.
Anthony told this newspaper that the Carifesta Secretariat could not be audited as a separate entity, since all financial matters relating to the festival were done through the Ministry and not the Secretariat. This was because the funds for the hosting of Carifesta were obtained through the Ministry, since it was this body that had approached the government for funding. These funds were released to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport when Parliament approved the financial budget this year.
As such, when the financial affairs of the Ministry are audited by the Auditor General, the Carifesta-related spending will be reviewed as well. The Minister said he could not give a definite answer when these accounts would be handed over to the Auditor General.
When asked about the letters appearing in some of the daily newspapers calling for a public investigation of Carifesta expenditure, Anthony suggested that those letter writers may have their own agendas. However, he maintained that the Ministry had nothing to hide and said that everything will be revealed in due course.
Meanwhile, in relation to the contractual dispute between the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and Swansea Industrial Associates, the Minister said that the matter is still at the Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers. He said that the chambers is examining whether there has indeed been a breach of contract by Swansea, and if this has been determined by the AG, the matter will be taken further. The Minister suggested that the most likely penalty would be that the contractor would have to refund the Ministry some of the money paid. The Swansea contract was in relation to several events at the National Stadium.
The opening ceremony was badly marred because of the poor sound and lighting effects.
