Anand Goolsarran

I was privileged to have been invited to participate in the University College of Cayman Islands Caribbean Anti-Corruption Conference held on 19-21 March 2014.

Two Thursdays ago, President Donald Ramotar held a national stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the stalemate in the passing of amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act 2009.

The issue of the holding local government elections has dominated the news in recent days.

On 16 January 2014, the Minister of Finance presented to the National Assembly the 2012 annual report of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

During the past week or so, various stakeholders expressed concerns publicly about the delay by the National Assembly to agree on the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act 2009 to bring it in line with international standards and to avoid sanctions being imposed.

On 30 April 2012, the National Assembly approved the Estimates of Expenditure for 2012 of $172 billion against the Government’s request of $192.8 billion, a reduction of $20.8 billion.

Last week, we revisited the purchase of drugs and medical supplies for the Ministry of Health and the Georgetown Hospital in the light of media reports suggesting that the criteria to be used in the prequalification of suppliers are heavily weighted in favour of a local organization.

Last week, we discussed the financial accountability of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), which is in a complete state of disarray.

The year 2013 was not a particularly good one for governance, transparency and accountability.

Last Thursday, the National Assembly adjourned for six months the debate on a bill to amend Public Procurement Act to reinstate Cabinet’s role in the awarding of public contracts.

Last week, we discussed a number of issues relating to the five per cent increase for public servants, arbitrarily agreed upon by the Government after talks broke down with the Guyana Public Service Union.

On 20 November 2013, the Government announced a five per cent increase in wages and salaries for public servants, retroactive to January 2013.

Last Monday, we began an examination of the three financial papers that the Minister of Finance presented to the National Assembly seeking approval by way of supplementary provision in the sum of $12.385 billion.

Last week, we concluded our discussion of the Enron accounting scandal.

Two weeks ago, we discussed the issue of conflict of interest.

Part II   Last week, we examined the accountability arrangements of all statutory bodies, especially as regards compliance with the Fiscal Management and Accounta-bility (FMA) Act.

The issue of conflict of interest has been in the news over the last few weeks, especially in the light of the disclosure by one of the media houses that the Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman is also the Company Secretary of the Amaila Falls Hydro Inc.,

Over the last few weeks, a number of concerns were expressed that raising the ceiling for Government guarantees of loans to public entities has the effect of increasing the public debt.

Two weeks ago, we began an examination of the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption (IACAC) which was signed on 29 March 1996 and which came into force on 6 March 1997. 

Since my article of 5 August on the Amaila Falls Project, a number of important developments took place.