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– Ramotar, Ministers to engage Regional headsFindings and recommendations of the Auditor General Reports on operations of Regional bodies will be extensively deliberated at an upcoming retreat for Regional heads. The primary aim is to correct and remove flaws which consistently appear in the annual reports.According to Local Government Minister, Ganga Persaud,Brad Richards Red Wings Jersey, from May 31 to June 2 in Region Six President Donald Ramotar and several Cabinet members will engage Regional Executive Officers and Deputy Regional Executive Officers on matters relating to the reports.Persaud said that the Ministry is paying careful attention to thePermanent Secretary Collin Croal and Local Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persaud.findings and recommendations of the Office of Auditor General. Earlier this year it concluded a staff retreat. The Ministry is targeting the upcoming retreat for the Regional heads, which will focus on what is being done,Tomas Plekanec Canadiens Jersey, how they are being executed and whether there are any best practices out there that could be replicated.One of the expected outcomes of the retreat is ensuring that certain basic operational procedures are adopted and accepted and will inform the way business is done across the 10 Administrative Regions.It will deliberately focus on the Auditor General’s reports over the past years and strategize mechanisms to correct and remove those consistent findings which appear in the reports. The end result should see mechanisms and strategies in place to deliver completed projects and programmes within the prescribe time frame and the concept of value for money is materialized.Almost annually,Alex Galchenyuk Canadiens Jersey, the Auditor General’s Reports highlight the same flaws in Government’s accounts,Mats Zuccarello Rangers Jersey, particularly for Regional Departments such as overpayment to contractors,Chris Chelios Red Wings Jersey, non-clearance of Advances,Terry Sawchuk Red Wings Jersey, and lack of maintenance of logbooks among others.The United States of America 2012 Human Rights Report made reference to the fact that the effectiveness of the Audit Office remains limited since Government may or may not act on the discrepancies noted in its reports.“Observers noted that recurring discrepancies were repeatedly highlighted in the reports without officials taking appropriate follow-up actions to investigate and resolve the discrepancies,Sidney Crosby Penguins Jersey,” the report highlighted.The Local Government and Regional Development Ministry is also putting measures in place to ensure that it leads by example. The Ministry is seeking to develop its internal audit department to promote accountability.According to the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Collin Croal,Jacques Plante Canadiens Jersey, the Ministry has received permission from the Public Service Ministry to recruit four auditors.He hopes that the addition of the auditors would help to identify weaknesses and make representations. “If you follow the Public Accounts Committee (of the National Assembly) there were a number of negative reports being provided… We want to deal with those reports,” Croal said.The Ministry of Local Government will be hiring a Legal Officer shortly. Minister Ganga Persaud said that for quite a while Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and Municipalities have encountered difficulties accessing and benefiting from legal representations. The appointment of a Legal Officer will allow enforcement of areas which were being treated lightly.“In some instances,Paul Martin Penguins Jersey, with the coming onboard of the legal officer it is anticipated that we will be able at the local Government level to enforce the bylaws in a consistent manner,” Persaud added. |
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