Anand Goolsarran

In our article of 23 April 2018, we discussed Guyana’s Budget Transparency Action Plan (BTAP) that the Government had developed in 2015.

Last week, we discussed Guyana’s Budget Transparency Action Plan (BTAP) that the Government had developed in 2015 with the objective of improving the budget process and more generally of enhancing transparency and accountability.

In our article of 9 April 2018, we had urged the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) “to continue its efforts to bring its examination of the public accounts up-to-date and to impress upon the Administration the importance of having all the actions contained in the BTAP (Budget Transparency Action Plan) undertaken with expedition, especially as they relate to the accountability timeframe”.

I will not pay bribes, I will not seek bribes, I will work with others to campaign against corruption, I will speak out against corruption and report on abuse, I will only support candidates for public office who say no to corruption and demonstrate transparency, integrity  and accountability.

The essential fact is that this Committee is a Committee of the House responsible to the House as a whole, and is not a battleground for party faction….

During a recent hearing on the examination of the 2016 public accounts, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) questioned the Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region 2 on the use of some $250 million from the Region’s current appropriation for 2017 to finance the cost of several projects of a capital nature, without the requisite approval.

The good news is that the authorities have decided to place into the Consolidated Fund the signature bonus of US$18 million that it received from ExxonMobil, and whenever the funds are needed parliamentary approval will be sought, presumably via a Supplementary Estimate.

uMuntu ngumuntu ngabantu; Motho ke motho ka batho – I am because you are; you are because we are.

Before proceeding with today’s article, we refer to the Government’s announcement that nine companies are interested in the allocation of the remaining oil blocks and that it is exploring options for both direct engagement and selective bidding.

The authorities have decided to remove the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) from the portfolio of entities under the Ministry of Agriculture and place it under the Ministry of Finance via the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd.

Guyana has moved four points up on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2017, from 34 to 38, with a ranking of 91 out of 180 countries surveyed.

Last week, we highlighted the key provisions of the Petroleum Commission Bill 2017 which has been referred to a Select Committee of the National Assembly for detailed scrutiny.

The legitimate authority for the collection of all State revenues is the GRA, and no Minister or official should have the discretion to decide what amount of such revenue should be transferred to the Consolidated Fund.

Last week, we carried our second article highlighting the key findings and recommendations contained in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) report entitled “Guyana: A reform Agenda for Petroleum Taxation and Revenue Management” dated November 2017.

In last week’s article, we mentioned some of the key findings contained in the IMF report entitled “Guyana: A reform Agenda for Petroleum Taxation and Revenue Management”, dated November 2017.

The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner of Canada has found that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau violated some provisions of the Conflict of Interest Act when he vacationed last Christmas season on a private island owned by the Aga Khan, including the use of the Agha Khan’s private helicopter.

In our last article, we referred to the US$18 million signing bonus that the Government received from ExxonMobil.

We must all express our gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Christopher Ram for disclosing that the Government was in receipt of a signing bonus of US$20 million from ExxonMobil.

Last week, we concluded out review of the report of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) on the procurement of $632 million worth of drugs and medical supplies for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corpora-tion (GPHC).

Last week, we began a discussion of the report of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) on the procurement of pharmaceuticals for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).