Accountability Watch

On 4 February 2021, the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act 2021 was passed in the National Assembly.

In last week’s article, we discussed Transparency International’s (TI) 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index.

COVID-19 is not just a health and economic crisis, but also a corruption crisis… Countries with high levels of corruption also relied less on democratic responses to the COVID-19 crisis, leading to democratic backsliding in many regions of the world. More

Before proceeding with today’s article, we wish to clarify that the views expressed in last week’s article entitled “Global Witness’s withdrawal of its report on Guyana” are those of this columnist.

Last February, Global Witness issued a report entitled “SIGNED AWAY: How Exxon’s exploitative deal deprived Guyana of up to US$55 billion”.

The Auditor General carried out a special audit of the fees paid by the Ministry of Legal Affairs for legal services during the period May 2015 to August 2020.

On 23 December 2020, the Auditor General’s report on the audit of the public accounts for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2019 was laid in the National Assembly.

On 10 December 2020, the Auditor General presented to the Speaker of the National Assembly his report on the audit of the public accounts for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2019.

Our objective is not only not to have more exploitation of new oil and gas resources (but also] to make sure that a meaningful part of oil and gas already discov- ered stays below the surface.

Last Wednesday was International Anti-Corruption Day, a day when governments, businesses and civil society join hands to renew their commitment to end the devastating effects of corruption on the lives of citizens worldwide.

Last week, it was reported that the UK Government, through the Department for International Development, is providing Jamaica’s Integrity Commission with approximately £550,000 for institutional strengthening in the following key areas: (i) development of an electronic system for filing of declarations with the Commission; (ii) drafting of Regulations to support the Integrity Commission Act; (iii) crafting of a corruption risk assessment; and (iv) development of a national anti-corruption strategy.

Guyana’s laws on petroleum exploration and production date back to the 1980s.

In our last two articles, we discussed the operations of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd.

In last week’s article, we began a discussion on the operations of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) in the light of the controversy over its involvement in the leasing and disposal of State lands under questionable circumstances.

It is time for better angels to prevail. Tonight, the whole world is watching America.

In last week’s article, we referred to the sad state of public accountability at the beginning of 1991.

In last week’s article, we referred to the appointment of the nine-member Public Accounts Committee (PAC) following the convening of the 12th Parliament under the new Administration.

The essential fact is this Committee is a Committee of the House responsible to the House as a whole, and is not a battleground for party faction…I believe it is true to say that the authority of the Committee is greatly enhanced by its unanimous character and I hope the complete objectivity of its report.

Last week, the Government announced the appointment of eight new Permanent Secretaries.

In last week’s article, we sought to explain the Government’s budgetary process for the benefit of those who are not familiar with it.