The Chief Secretary wrote the Administrators on July 5, expressing his disappointment and alarm that, after many months and numerous requests, Administrators in some Divisions of the Assembly had not responded to management from the Auditor General with respect to the accounts of the Assembly.
“We must be aware that failure to respond to those management letters could guarantee that the Assembly receives negative comments when the Auditor General’s reports are finalised,” London said.
He also reminded the Administrators of the public outcry and condemnation, after the publication of the Auditor General reports, in recent years. He added that most of the negative comments in those reports would have been related to the failure to respond adequately and urgently, to the relevant management letters.
He stressed: “It would be untenable if that situation were to be repeated and I am, therefore, urging all Administrators to ensure that there is an urgent, adequate and professional response to all management letters from the Auditor General, with respect to the accounts of the Tobago House of Assembly.”
London said he was forced to write the Administrators because something was happening and something is happening that was troubling him and he decided to pro act. He explained that a management letter was only sent if supporting documentation for spending on a particular item was not produced during an audit exercise by the Auditor General’s Department.