Mr Melville said that the situation is regrettable and announced that a forensic audit will be conducted by the Division in collaboration with the Division of Finance and Enterprise Development to avoid future recurrence. Information from the audit will inform on the proper mechanisms and procedures for the timely payment of wages to workers, allowances for contract employment and for purchases to suppliers. The information will also assist in the implementation of procedures for proper control of stores inventory, rentals of vehicles, procurement of goods and pay roll expenses among others.
Assistant Secretary Melville said that the tardy payment of workers is unacceptable and he sincerely apologised to the affected workers.
Additionally, Finance and Enterprise Secretary Dr Anselm London added that the THA will hire a firm to audit the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities. The firm will be required to submit the audit report three months (3) from the commencement of the probe.
He said that a management committee comprising the Secretary of Infrastructure and Public Utilities and his Assistant, the Secretary of Finance and Enterprise Development and the Head of Procurement in the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities will liaise with the auditing firm and make important decisions about hiring practices, processing of payment, rental of vehicles and other activities for streamlining the Division.
The Finance Secretary further advised that there will be an immediate freeze on hiring in the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities until the audit has been conducted.
“We are going to put a stop to anything that is wrong and encourage all the things that are good”, Dr London emphasised.