Director of Audit Clarence Christain has defended The Roosevelt Skerrit Administration’s Public Support Programme confirming that the process is a transparent one where proper accountability is practiced.
Mr. Christain in a statement issued on Wednesday May 23rd, 2012 stated clearly that no cash handouts are made as part of the programme.
“The Office of the Director of Audit wishes to state that no cash is being disbursed in the Office of the Prime Minister or packaged in envelopes by the Office of the Prime Minister for delivery,” Christian emphasized in his statement.
He has explained that all disbursements under the Programme “are effected on the Smart Stream Accounting System by the Votes Clerk in the said Office upon instructions by the Secretary to the Cabinet after the Honourable Prime Minister has approved the amount to be disbursed to individuals, groups or organisations who have made representation to the Hon Prime Minister for such assistance”.
Opposition critics to Government’s Public support programme claim that dry cash is issued to members of the public every Wednesday at the Financial Centre.
According to Director of Audit Christian that is completely untrue.
“At no time do individuals receive cash in hand or in packaged envelopes. The Office of the Prime Minister does not handle cash for disbursement under the Public Support Programme,” the Director of Audit stressed.
“All payments are effected upon the presentation of proper and valid invoices from the provider of the services to be rendered and in most cases payments are made directly to the service provider by the Accountant General,” Christian said.
He has also addressed concerns about an alleged lack of transparency and accountability.
“The Office of the Director of Audit wishes to confirm that the Public Support Programme is being administered in compliance with Financial Regulations and Funds allocated by Parliament for the said Programme are properly and adequately accounted for by the Office of the Prime Minister”.
Christian also confirmed that “the funds allocated are audited by the Office of the Director of Audit yearly and reported in the Director of Audit Report to Parliament”.
The Director of Audit says the support programme focuses on a range of areas.
“Generally, payments under this Programme are made for health, education, funeral assistance, housing, cultural activities, etc” he explained.