Hashtag: #AuditorGeneral
Column: “Continuing High-Level Incompetence”
[Opinion column written by Larry Burchall] The recent Auditor General’s Report covers the Financial Years [FY] 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12. It is 305 pages long. I have read and digested that report. Within those 305 pages there are many examples and references, by the Auditor General, to financial mis-management, uncorrected errors in payments,... Read more of this article
‘Rules Didn’t Matter, Overspending Didn’t Matter’
“It was conditions where rules didn’t matter and overspending didn’t matter,” Finance Minister Bob Richards said following the release of the Auditor General’s report, adding that “when you have that kind of poor level of governance it costs taxpayers millions.” The Auditor General’s report covered 2010, 2011 and... Read more of this article
Heather Thomas Appointed Auditor General
Government House has announced the appointment of Bermudian Heather Thomas as the new Auditor General, with Ms Thomas set to succeed Mrs Heather Jacobs Matthews. The Governor, Mr George Fergusson, has said, “I am delighted that Ms Thomas has accepted this role. The post of Auditor General provides a critical link in the chain of public accountability... Read more of this article
Auditor General Report On Consolidated Fund
The Auditor General has released reports on the Government’s Consolidated Fund for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, saying the key issue “relates to serious deficiencies in internal control over the management of various capital development projects.” The statement said, “Auditor General, Heather Jacobs Matthews,... Read more of this article
Auditor General To Retire In November 2015
Government House has today announced that the Auditor General, Mrs Heather Jacobs Matthews, will be retiring as of 15 November 2015. The Governor, Mr George Fergusson, has said, “I would like to take this opportunity to pay a very warm tribute to the Auditor General for her work over the last 6 years. “Since her appointment in 2009, she has... Read more of this article
Auditor Criticizes Port Royal Cost Overruns
Auditor General Heather Jacobs Matthews has released a Special Report on the Port Royal Golf Course Improvements Capital Development Project, which is highly critical of the Board of Trustees and the Government’s management of more than $24 million which was spent during the years 2007 to 2011 – a project the Auditor said was initially budgeted... Read more of this article
Auditor General Remains ‘Very Concerned’
Auditor General Heather Jacobs Matthews [pictured] responded to the BHB’s statement, saying she “takes exception to the Chairman’s comment and remains very concerned that a significant, unsubstantiated financial transaction was admittedly concealed in BHB’s financial statements…” Last month the Bermuda Hospitals Board [BHB]... Read more of this article
Auditor General Criticizes Financial Statements
[Updated - Auditor General confirms the net debt was $2.4 billion eleven months ago.] Auditor General Heather Jacobs Matthews commented on the audited financial statements of the Consolidated Fund of the Government of Bermuda for the year ended March 31, 2012 which were tabled by the Minister of Finance in the House of Assembly today [Feb 8]. The Auditor... Read more of this article
PAC Report Reveals Global Hue, BLDC Issues
The Public Accounts Committee [PAC] report tabled on Friday [July 20] revealed a number of occurrences including the fact that BLDC Deputy Chairman removed the painting company for one owned by the Chairman’s son, that Global Hue tried to “destroy the career” of a Bermudian veteran tourism officer, and that financial instructions were... Read more of this article
PAC Discusses Auditor General’s Special Report
[Updated] The Public Accounts Committee [PAC] Enquiry into the Special Report of the Auditor General on the Misuse of Public Funds got underway at 3:10pm yesterday [July 12] with ex-Minister Derrick Burgess called to answer questions. This part of the enquiry was into the financial affairs and financial management of the Bermuda Land Development Company... Read more of this article
Committee To Meet On ‘Misuse of Funds’ Report
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Public Accounts will conduct a Public Meeting of the Committee today [July 12] at 3pm in the St. Paul’s A.M.E. Church Centennial Hall on Court Street. The meeting was orginally slated for last week, but was rescheduled to this week. It is expected that the Standing Committee will again deliberate on matters... Read more of this article
Auditor General’s 2010 Report Released
Auditor General Heather Jacobs Matthews today [June 22] released the 2010 Report of the Auditor General. The report covers the audit work of the Office of the Auditor General for the two financial years ended March 31, 2009 and 2010 and the Accounts of the Government of Bermuda for the year ended March 31, 2009. Commenting on the time taken to release... Read more of this article
Premier: Speech An “Extraordinary Attack”
After lawyer Kevin Comeau spoke at a public forum about allegations of corruption and his view of shortcomings in the Good Governance Act, Premier Paula Cox called his speech an “extraordinary attack” which contained “reckless and misguided statements.” On Wednesday [Mar.14] the Centre for Justice hosted a public forum entitled... Read more of this article
OBA: 5 Things About Auditor’s Report
Opposition Leader Craig Cannonier said, “It’s been nearly two weeks since the Auditor General made public her special report on the Government misusing public money. “Since then, there has been a steady stream of press reports about wrongdoings at the Bermuda Land Development Company and Government funding a private legal action by two... Read more of this article
OBA’s Cannonier On Auditor’s Report
[Written by Opposition Leader Craig Cannonier] We don’t believe the people of Bermuda are surprised to hear about the misuses of public money revealed by the Auditor General’s report. Over the years, we have seen enough to know that the system has been worked time and again for the benefit of friends and insiders. Government pledges to strengthen... Read more of this article
Report: Premier, OBA, UBP Reply
[Updated with PLP's reply] Both Opposition parties responded to yesterday’s report from the Auditor General, with the UBP calling for the resignation of the officials involved, while the OBA called it a “deeply troubling report because it reveals elected and senior officials working the system to move public money into private hands.” The... Read more of this article
