the Georgetown Public Hospital

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– Jordan says $600 M disappeared between two ministries All through the 2015 budget debates last week, accusations have been rife within the National Assembly that the forensic audits, investigations and Commissions of Inquiry launched by the coalition government will spell nothing but economic hardships.Specifically, former Minster of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee said that the probes and audits would only hurt the economy.But Finance Minister, Winston laughed heartily last night in the face of these statements.He sought to send the Opposition, a somber warning, “Be afraid. Be very afraid of the forensic audits.”As parliamentary tradition dictated, on Friday night, the Finance Minister was the last person to close off the debate on the budget and he spoke on a range of issues.As for the forensic audits and investigations, Jordan said, “We are conducting these audits and reviews because we need to know what we have inherited, what has been hidden, where, in whose pockets, in whose bank accounts. But our friends (the opposition) seem afraid of what will be discovered…the discoveries have already started.”The Finance Minister said that over $600M disappeared between the formerly named Office of the President as well as the previously named Public Service Ministry.Finance Minister, Winston JordanThe Member of Parliament said, “I say to members of the opposite side…these audits are here to stay and they will not be discontinued… The Auditor General told me that he does not have capacity to carry out the forensic audits and he agreed for us to do it independently. We are within our right. We have 15 auditors shared right around so it’s not a Christopher Ram or Anand Goolsarran dominated thing.”The forensic audits were started in mid-June. According to Jordan, they are being conducted to ascertain how the assets of the state were sold, disposed of or transferred under the previous administration.About 30 state entities, funds and national projects are currently being audited. These include the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the Georgetown Public Hospital, and the Guyana Forestry Commission.Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma is in charge of the team of forensic auditors. Also part of the team is Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran. The services of Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, have also been retained.The government’s position on the forensic audits is a direct contradiction to what Auditor General Deodat Sharma had earlier stated.The Auditor General had disclosed that the Ministry of Finance informed him that it has chosen to do independent audits.“They will not be using our services. They want to do it independently. I guess they want to show that it is going to be more credible that way. It is not like the Audit Act restricts them to using us,” he had said.As it relates to his closing remarks on the budget 2015 debates, the Finance Minister said that he was disappointed in some of the presentations by members of the Opposition as he said that it lacked substance and as a result represented nothing but sterility.With the 2015 budget, Jordan said that the APNU+AFC coalition government has taken a bold step in laying out a plan that safeguards the economy as well as promotes the development of the nation’s human resources.The politician said it is a “visionary budget” that leads to a worthwhile future. He emphasized too that the theme of the budget is centered on the phrase “fresh approach” which indicates the casting aside of systems which encouraged the lack of accountability and transparency and promoted corruption and nepotism.As for the allegations throughout the debates by the Opposition that the government is engaging in ethnic cleansing, Jordan said, “It would take many days to talk about the infamous ethnic cleansing and marginalization which took place under the PPP.”The Finance Minister added, “Those who scream ethnic cleansing and witch-hunting must ensure that they have their facts straight and that they are above suspicion.”Jordan said that the electorate gave the government a mandate to clean up the mess left behind by the PPP/C and stressed that this will be done. He said that the heart of the problem, in the last 15 years has been found to be bad governance.The Finance Minister said that good governance must no longer be seen as a cliché. He said that it must be employed and practiced for the prosperity of “our beloved nation.”