Taxpayers are entitled to full and transparent accounting for the expenditure of public funds. This becomes more critical when there is a discrepancy of $2.6 billion, as is the case with the dispute in which Finance Minister Colm Imbert, Attorney General Reginald Armour and Auditor General Jaiwantie Ramdass are embroiled.
All the pre-action protocol letters, legal threats being traded, and political claims and counterclaims shrouding the issue, make it difficult to arrive at a full and speedy resolution, which would be best for all involved.
The wrangling over the Auditor General’s 2023 report is being waged in full public glare, in a way that could negatively impact T&T’s credit ratings and financial image if allowed to spin further out of control.
For that reason, the focus should be on arriving at the truth, with cooler heads all around, particularly because these allegations of a material misstatement in the Auditor General’s submitted audit for 2023 can negatively impact three of the country’s senior office holders.
The Auditor General’s critical role in the audit and certification of T&T’s public accounts in a manner that ensures accountability and transparency has come under scrutiny, and she is well within her right to protect the integrity of her office.
Unfortunately, this issue has erupted just a few months into Ms Ramdass’ term, as she was appointed to the position just a few months ago, November 15, 2023.
However, she is a highly qualified and experienced professional who worked in a “Big Four” audit firm before joining the Auditor General’s Department in 1994 and in her many years of public service, she has functioned in key positions.
But the matter is also drawing some attention to the Finance Ministry and its budgetary functions.
In a statement in Parliament, Minister Imbert said his ministry’s officials had detected the variance and understatement of the revenue for 2023 reported by the Treasury to the Auditor General, and attributed it in part to the implementation of a new electronic cheque-clearing system.
This is a matter that cries out for a transparent and independent investigation — taxpayers deserve no less than the full truth in an issue involving such a significant amount of public funds.
However, even getting to that point is proving to be difficult, as the team appointed to investigate, led by retired Justice David Harris — other members are former audit director David Benjamin and Information Technology specialists from Norway — has been challenged by the Auditor General's attorneys.
The lawyers claim the investigative team is trespassing on the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and have sent a pre-action protocol letter arguing this.
This new development casts doubt not only over the validity of the investigative team but every aspect of this matter, making it more difficult to get timely answers to the questions about the management of the public purse that have been raised.
There has been so much sabre-rattling and political posturing that it is necessary to remind all concerned about the considerable national interests involved.
Proper financial auditing protocols and procedures must be followed. However, it is also the responsibility of every public official involved in this contentious issue, as well as their legal representatives, to ensure the interests of T&T’s taxpayers are protected.
This is what they should be guided by in seeking out the full facts in this matter.