Guard
T&T's purse
Trinidad Express
Petroleumworldtt.com
04 06 08
'Be watchful': President George Maxwell Richards
said at Saturday's function.
President George Maxwell Richards has issued a
call for the Auditor General's Department to be
vigilant in guarding the nation's Treasury and
demand accountability with respect to protecting
the public purse.
"When we observe the developing of newly
emerging countries...it is evident that without
the necessary checks and balances, room is created
for chaos in many spheres, sometimes leading to
anarchy," said Richards.
Richards made these strong statements at dinner
to celebrate the 85th anniversary of local funding
for the Auditor General Department, at the Hyatt
Regency Hotel, Port of Spain on Saturday.
At the dinner, Richards signalled the warning
and offered powerful advice to the staff of the
Auditor General's office.
"You cannot remit your effort in this regard
and cannot be excused if you do," said Richards.
He said oil and gas and an endless supply of financial
resources are not guaranteed to any country, including
Trinidad and Tobago and the nation's purse must
be scrutinised with a close and watchful eye.
He added that the framers of the Constitution
ensured that the Office of the Auditor General
was an independent body to ensure transparency
and accountability in public spending.
"It is critical that in the exercise of its
function that the Auditor General not be under
the control or direction of any other person or
authority," said Richards.
"This fact happens to be tremendous influence
on the transparency of Government accounting and
I say this not with exclusive reference to Trinidad
and Tobago," he added.
Richards
stressed that in the matter of public finances, "One
might say especially in this area, vigilance
must be maintained at all times,"
"What may be regarded by some as anarchistic
are the very legislation and regulations that serve
to keep a country on a sustained course of development." he
said.
"The human condition is such that in spite
of the best intention...spontaneous observance
to do what is right cannot be relied on," he
said.
Therefore, Richards added, in defence of the common
good, the office of the Auditor General has the
right to demand accountability with respect to
protecting the public's purse.
Richards pointed out that the value of money was
subject to change and a country's economy can be
affected by the international financial market.
He
advised that this was "all the more reason
why those of you who are so charged must continue
to be good stewards and guardians of the treasury,"
Richards
added that it was incumbent that staff of the
Auditor General's department are properly
and adequately trained to have a "keen eye" and
fulfil their task with impartiality.
He said that the department should not be left
behind in terms of education and he urged that
members be kept abreast of regional and international
developments in the auditing functions.
Richards
said the development of the human resource will
serve to boost morale and enthusiasm for the
job, "Yours is an awesome responsibility,
one that can be fulfilled with scrupulous exactitude,"
Opposition Senator Wade Mark, who is also chairman
of the Public Accounts Enterprises Committee (PAEC)
and Opposition MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, also chairman
of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) were both
present at the function.
Story
by Anna
Ramdass from The Trinidad Express
-aramdass@trinidadexpress.com
The
Trinidad Express
Monday, March 31st 2008
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