The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE missing resources from the Department of Road Traffic’s Abaco office valued at $662,705 will be investigated by the Public Accounts Committee once it receives the auditor general’s report which uncovered the unaccounted for materials, according to PAC Chairman Hubert Chipman yesterday.

However, Mr Chipman admitted that due to several standing matters now before the PAC, he could not say when the probe into the operations at the Marsh Harbour office would begin.

The PAC is expected to receive Auditor General Terrance Bastian’s report today when Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin tables it in the House of Assembly.

She told The Tribune on Monday that the report uncovered “accounting lapses in tracking the resources” like decals, discs and inspection stickers at the Marsh Harbour department. The audit covered the period January 2012 to March 2015.

Road Traffic Department Controller Ross Smith also confirmed that as a result of the findings, three current civil servants are under investigation. A worker who resigned earlier in the year is also being questioned by police, The Tribune was told.

East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest, who also sits on the PAC, said the issue warrants critical review as he urged the government to move hastily to have experts bring modernization, with a view to limiting access to cash and for employees to manipulate the system.

He said: “It seems that every ministry seems to have an issue with theft and misappropriation of funds. But the wider issue is with respect to the controls that must be put in place.

“It raises the question of how come all of a sudden these things are being revealed? What systems have been allowed to deteriorate?

“The situation warrants critical review and I am sure that the PAC will take a look. I urge that the government bring in experts to review all of these systems and ensure modernisation to limit access to cash and for employees to manipulate the system to their advantage.

“It’s a sad situation to experience these kinds of losses especially when the country is going through a difficult financial period.”

Mr Turnquest said what is most unfortunate is that there is no telling what other resources have gone missing from the department, as the audit report only covered January 2012 to March 2015.

He further criticised Mrs Hanna Martin over her assertion that the former Free National Movement administration had stopped efforts to modernise the department when it took office in 2007.

“It is a ridiculous statement and the Bahamian people deserve more than that. Fix it. That is what you are hired to do. For her to indicate that the FNM stopped something I have to then ask what has been done since the PLP took office over the last three years.”

Mr Smith, in a press statement yesterday, reiterated that the government is in the process of completely automating the department’s operations.

He said: “The Transport Management System is now underway to be completed within the next 12 months. This automation process will bring about a greater level of efficiency and accountability relative to the collection of revenue.”

This system will also minimise incidents of fraud among other things.