By Antonio Dey
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday slammed the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) for a plethora of discrepancies and contract breaches which were unearthed in the 2019 Auditor General report.
Following a one month recess, the 57th meeting of the PAC recommenced with members from both government and opposition outraged at a $27.1 million contract being awarded by MARAD to a contractor (unnamed) for incomplete works on the vessel MT Setter which falls under the Public Works Ministry.
PAC Finance Secretary Sukrishnalall Pasha reported that payments were made without a bank guarantee to which PAC Member Ganesh Mahipaul highlighted that this was in violation of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003.
