PAC To Meet On Auditor’s Port Royal Report
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Public Accounts will conduct a Public Hearing on Thursday [April 30] at 2:30pm in the Library at the House of Assembly.
“It is expected that the Standing Committee will deliberate on matters relating to the golf course renovations and facilities improvements work during the Port Royal Golf Course renovation project, as highlighted in the recent‘Special Report of the Auditor General on the Port Royal Golf Course Improvements Capital Development Project’ dated October 2014,” a spokesperson said.
“The Public Accounts Committee is comprised of Members of Parliament and is authorized by the House of Assembly to closely examine and report on matters relating to the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by the Legislature to meet the public expenditure of Bermuda. The committee also investigates findings reported by the Auditor General in the Auditor’s Annual and other Special Reports.
“The current Chairman of the Committee is Mr. E. David G. Burt, JP, MP,” the spokesperson added. “Members of the public are invited to attend and observe the hearing to be held in The Library at the House of Assembly, 2nd Floor of the Sessions House at 21 Parliament Street, Hamilton, HM 12.”
When the report was released last year, a statement from the Auditor General’s office said, ““The Special Report speaks of cost overruns, a lack of proper oversight and monitoring by the Government, loan financing authorized by the Minister of Finance without the approval of Parliament and a total disregard of established financial practices and controls for government expenditures – including the lack of tendering and conflicts of interest relating to Board members, one of whom was a Government Minister.”
“Further, the Auditor General reports that she cannot conclude whether all the funds received by the Board of Trustees were used for the intended purposes or were fully accounted for due to inadequate accounting records.”
The Auditor General’s Special Report on the Port Royal Golf Course follows below [PDF here]:
shushhhhhhhh…it’s going to get quiet. just crickets and bleeping tree frogs.
Public Hearing on Thursday [April 30] at 2:30pm in the Library in the House of Assembly.
Please, attempt being there.
instead of answers, expect questions such as, “what about Jetgate?”.
Follow the money. Same transparency Fahy is providing on PLV.
Also, what transpired at PAC meeting re Americas Cup?
If it’s not in Supreme Court with some people in cuffs what’s the point of wasting more taxpayers’ money?
Get over it – the Westminster system creates Kings and Tyrants who can take your money, ignore the law and there is nothing you can do about it.
Quo Fata Ferunt
Guess what, every political system does that. If you have discovered or created one that doesn’t, please enlighten us, deliver unto us this system whereby we are lead by leaders devoid of the selfishness of human nature… Until then, at least we have a system by which we get the chance to choose our leaders, something that the vast majority of the people of this world don’t get.
What is interesting about the PLP’s obsession with Jetgate is that there was NO public money spent, NO evidence of any corruption yet they go on and on. This however is the people’s money, over $20 million worth, under questionable circumstances and some even went into a politicians pockets. Now that’s a scandal!
@ stunned: In reference to,”what about Jetgate?” which was unrelated to this,(one of several) fiascos under the leadership of the former Government, the Progressive Labour Party and a certain Minister Zane DeSilva involvement/s… Yes we’re wrenching our fingers anticipating an outcome
@Ray …instead of receiving answers on the maladministration of the public purse to the tune of $20m, the public will be asked about a $350k contribution (not expense) which had no financial impact on the taxpayer and is in no way central to the very cause for this PAC meeting.
Quoting your letter, and another “pile-of-doo”
“It reeks of maladministration.” Of course the Ombudsman said the same thing.
Who called the meeting?
About time the Hen came home to roost.
Can’t wait until The Home Office sends the forensic guys and girls over.
Just have to wait for the Tee Off time and see who brings their clubs and balls.
Shalom.
This article has been up for several minutes now, and nothing from MockingHimself and the usual suspects/surrogates. Talk about an eerie silence…
busy formulating Jetgate questions, no doubt.
Crickets as big as basketballs!
I personally will attempt being at this Public Hearing on Thursday [April 30] at 2:30pm in the Library in the House of Assembly. I advise as many others to be present and hear for themselves the, “who, what, where and whens” pertaining to Port Royal and that $20 million dollars that supposedly just vanished. Inquisitive minds would like to know…
but lock up a brother for stealing a steak
A Thought For Today:
“I have lived in this world just long enough to look carefully the second time into things that I am most certain of the first time.” -Josh Billings, columnist and humorist (21 Apr 1818-1885)
$20 million for chopping some trees and moving some dirt!
Doubltess the PLP paid bloggers have their heads together deciding which of their usual lines of deflection to use.
Heres a few:
“Its because of racism”
“Its because the OBA don’t care about grassroots Bermudians”
“The OBA puts foreigners before Bermudians”
“Jetgate”
“Jetgate”
“Racism”
“400 years”
“DIEHEART (sic) OBA FOLLOWERS WILL BELIEVE ANYTHING”
“Standing Strong”
Repeat, ad nausium.
Here is the outcome………We find actions highly unethical…..but not illegal….and we just wasted more money on this inquiry..
Lets hope not
If they are unethical with public money then they can’t be trusted with public money in the future and should be kicked out out of Bermuda…OK if not Bermuda, then out of any position where they represent the public and can vote in any way to influence over the public purse. They should also be banned from recieving public funds in any capacity.
Enough fuss was made by the PLP over the 18million which has been investigated and continues to be investigated.
Now Burt’s turn to out those with this 20million.
It is sad inna?
Especially as someone said above you see people in court and getting locked up for shoplifting.
There really are ‘Two Bermudas.’ One for the politicians and one for their subjects/servants.
Does PAC have the authority to initiate a fraud case? Will be interesting to listen on Thursday to hear how far this committee is willing to go.
It will be a wink and nodd session.
You cannot prosecute incompentence and stupidity – it’s “White” collar crime.
How much did all those rocks at the Airport cost? Now that’s a PAC project in waiting.
Quo Fata Ferunt
They still need to publicly outline where the money went. Who got it..for what..and who authorized.
Same should have happened for all the huge over runs and for the qualified audits.
Bring in Scotland Yard.
Cannot wait to see what questions Burt asks ,…….. anyone want to take a bet? 2 to 1 on that he is quiet.
And many of you seniors need to get out of the way and allow fresh innovative ideas, if your belief is in the way of progress then come up with a solution other than that shut the hell up !!
You mind your mouth you whipper snapper
this island needs fresh innovative ideas. please share with the appropriate ministries. bermuda is trapped in the paradigm of planting potatoes and expecting corn…
glad i didn’t take up the bet. burt had no questions.none.nope.zilch.nein.non.
Having just read the report by the A/G I am stunned. ..
Move along folks , there’s nothing to see here .
Especially here .
Agreed. It’s only the normal PLP greed, sense of entitlement, and reckless fiscal mismanagement. I get it -nothing to see here.
Don’t get too excited about this meeting. Think of it as merely a prelude of things to come…
Since Mr Burt is the chair of the PAC meetings this should be great…..spin,spin spin,spin…..ahem instead of talking about the $24,000,000.00 Port Royal fiasco lets talk about the $350,000 that came into Ber Ida from Jetgate….question Mr Burt is the $24,000,000.00 Port Royal overspend part on the $800,000,000.00 or is it separate? Inquiring minds want to know….
…would i be wrong in thinking that there will be no mention of the $350k?