A day late and a dollar short: The Auditor-General's reports were hidden from the voters so FijiFirst Party could go to the polls as 'squeaky clean'

21/10/2014

The Question Remains: Why they hid their salaries for eight long years? And how much was Aunty Nur Bano Ali's company paid by the regime?

Auditor General confirms sighting Cabinet Ministers’ salaries for 2013

The Auditor General Tevita Bolanavanua has confirmed that his office has sighted the details of the cabinet ministers’ salaries in 2013, however, they could not sight the contract details of the ministers.

It is revealed in the 2013 Auditor General’s Report that the contract documents detailing the terms and conditions for the salaries of cabinet ministers were not made available for audit.

The report said that the Chief Accountant Treasury is responsible for the safekeeping and proper maintenance of all accounting records or documents.

The Auditor General said that from their review, it has been revealed that the Ministry of Finance paid a total of $1.86 million as cabinet ministers’ salaries in 2013.

The audit stated that discussions revealed that the salaries are processed based on the amounts provided by Alizpacific Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors.

The payment details of the ministers starts with the Prime Minister getting $278,750 in 2013 while other ministers getting between $130,000 to $185,000.

The audit said in addition, on the 20th of February this year, the Prime Minister received a gratuity payment of $57,500 for the year ended 2013.

The audit was verbally advised that the contract documents are with the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Auditor General said that they made a formal request on the 14th of January 2014 to the Office of the Prime Minister for the verification of the contract documents, however, they were not furnished with the contracts.

It said the Ministry of Finance also made the request with the Office of the Prime Minister but was not provided with the documents.

The viewing of the documents is to confirm that the correct payment of salaries was made to the ministers based on their terms and conditions stated in their contracts.

The management of the Finance Ministry said in the 2013 audit that similar to the Office of the Auditor General, they have also requested for this information from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Finance Ministry management said they have also suggested to the PM’s Office to allow the auditors to view these documents. Source: Fijivillage News.

22 Comments

thug rule link

21/10/2014 01:13:43 pm

Remember in the period in question Fiji was under absolute thug rule. Hiding things from the masses is the norm in such a regime. It was - and largely remains - a regime that does not consider itself ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE. The belatedly presentation of an Auditor-General's report is just a ruse to show there is democratic processes and engagement now that we have had an election and we are back to "parliamentary democracy". remember the dictator is still in power. no more needs to be said.

FNPF VARIFICATION

21/10/2014 03:48:36 pm

When it has been public outcry accusing of $1m+ salary to PM and AG, where is request from Auditor General to FNPF to varify the FNPF contribution made to both of them since 2010 so a true value of salary can be derived to have been paid in those financial periods?

Stated in the Auditor-General's report 2013

21/10/2014 04:02:54 pm

THE Prime Minister's Office in 2013 was found to have an unreconciled variance of $1.06million between the Financial Management and Information System general ledger Trust Cash at Bank account and their bank reconciliation balance.

Auditor-General Tevita Bolanavanua noted that other anomalies in the books of the Prime Minister's Office included the non-receipting of direct deposits and overstatement of interest earned.

He said the nature of payments in the 2013 trust fund statement of receipts and payment were also not disclosed appropriately to ensure the disclosure consistency and comparability with the 2012 figures.

Is this to mean financial corruption in Frank Bainimarama's Office?

What Else?

22/10/2014 01:11:22 am

Its elementary, Dear Watson, What else can it mean?

Auditor General Reports - 2013

21/10/2014 04:07:44 pm

For the Public Service Commission for a particular account, accounts receivables had a debit balance of $10.7million.

It was noted that no reconciliation was provided so the audit could not substantiate the correctness of the balance.

Does the above mean the CEO Pramesh Chand is acutely and chronically dumb and now rewarded with a salary increase for his dumbness and abuse of tax payer funds?

Chaudhry as Finance Minister -2007 waivers tender and accountability

21/10/2014 04:16:48 pm

IN 2007, the RFMF's total expenditure for the purchase of various military stores and camp equipment surpassed $21m — incurring an over-expenditure total of $20,183,924.

However, the RFMF said the expenses incurred were "essential" for the events of December 5, 2006.

This was highlighted in the Auditor-General's 2007 report.

They were allocated an initial budget of $964,928 for the purchase of equipment that year.

"Standard Government procurement procedures such as obtaining approval from the Major Tenders Board were not complied with," it reported.

"However, the RFMF later sought retrospective approval from the Minister for Finance through a Cabinet IGCP (07) 291 for the over-expenditure and waiver of approval by the Major Tenders Boards.

"A physical verification of the items purchased revealed that most have not been used and were lying idle in the Store Room and items such as Jungle Hats and Anti Ballistic Glasses were not needed in 2007 because there were stock left from previous years or not used during the year."

The above confirms while Chaudhry was curbing wages expenditure to nurses and civil servants, he was colloborating with RFMF/Frank with abuse of funds to the tune of $20million that year.

No wonder he had not allocated money to fix pot holes in 2007 or did he divert road maintenance budget to this over stocking of goods just to fill some pockets?

Sack Permanent Secretary and Accountant

21/10/2014 04:27:07 pm

THE Ministry of Rural and Maritime Developments 2013 Trust Account Statement of Receipts and Expenditures could not be ascertained to be fairly stated, according to the 2013 Auditor-General's report.

This is because of a variance of $3.7million that exists between trust fund cash at bank recorded in the FMIS general ledger ($6.2million) and trust fund liability account balance ($2.5million).

Based on above why should the PS and Accountant overseeing this trust account paper trail not be sacked? Or were they beneficiaries to the unaccounted expenditures?

Remember Kunatuba and Accountant was sacked....in 2001,.

Bainimarama incompetent - ...and where is Cyclone Amy Funds Chaudhry?

21/10/2014 04:31:50 pm

The Auditor's report noted the ministry didn't reconcile the Prime Minister's National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Trust Fund receipt and expenditure in the FMIS general ledger as no expenditure ledger was maintained.

The report noted that the inspection of the stores in Walu Bay revealed unaccounted project building materials were stored outside for some years and these were deteriorating.

This included materials received for Cyclone Tomas rehabilitation work which were not delivered to the North.

It was also noted that the ministry had poor administration of Cyclone Evans rehabilitation operation.

Poor record keeping for even smallest expenditure - is it corruption?

21/10/2014 04:34:43 pm

The Auditor's report noted that projects were not initiated for individuals and communities that had given their one third deposit for various programs recorded on the Provincial Development Trust Fund Account totalling $359,139.

Some contributions dated back to 2003.

The Commissioner Eastern Division was only able to facilitate 30 per cent payment from the $2million allocated for the division for various projects under the 2013 Public Sector Investment Project.

Status of the investment projects under the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) and other capital projects undertaken could not be ascertained because of poor record keeping for the Eastern Division.

Corrupt Bastards

22/10/2014 01:23:58 am

Come-on man - Was this the Clean-Up or the total Mess-up? How can 'POOR' record keeping even be tolerated! Commissioner Eastern was totally in the take - The corrupt bastard!

DPP Under Spends as Justice Delayed / Denied to Tens of Thousands

21/10/2014 04:44:02 pm

AT the end of 2013, the Judicial Department had total arrears of revenue of $11.9million and building contractors Western Builders were overpaid $89,786.26 for the refurbishment of the courts according to the 2013 Auditor-General's Report.

The audit noted there was a substantial number of pending cases under each category of court.

The Magistrates Court had 136,634 cases pending, the High Court had 4951 cases pending while the Family Court had 2,863 pending cases.

The report also noted that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions made a saving of $1.16 million.

The ODPP had a budget of $5.11million and spent only $3.95million.

other one link

22/10/2014 01:11:34 am

what happened to the other Auditor-General Eroni something? who tried to get the military regimental funds audited and was there after the takeover? Did the dictator get rid of him? why?

ALIZMINCER

22/10/2014 01:30:14 am

Aliz has totally 'minced and milked' our Ministry of Finance - DRY!

Just what fucking business has Noor Banu to do with our national treasury? Who bloodly hell authorized her?

What were the exact contractual arrangements and obligations of each party? - Nothing I suppose, except to Chori and Chori and self-enrichment on our government coffers.

DOWN

22/10/2014 03:06:56 am

Vote Fiji First..........vote Fiji First.......now what? THE SHIT IS HERE! FIJI FIRST SHIT IS HERE!

Rusiate Vatuniqere

23/10/2014 06:49:47 pm

Yes, vote Fiji First in overspending, overpaid, unauthorised payment, etc, etc, to be misled by development and so forth? They think the public were fools and only Bai and Kaiyum were intellectual with their sweet talks? What will the supporters of Fiji First have to say? Blinded and misled!

dirty hands link

22/10/2014 03:12:49 am

Let us be clear on one thing : the "clean - up " gang who grabbed power had their dirty hands in the national coffers for the past 8 years with no one to question them. What do you think happens when you have such a scenario? The belated A-G report is just for show - to show Fiji is now a parliamentary democracy. Nothing will come out of it. No offender will be taken to task ( to borrow that favourite expression of the dictator and his henchmen).

avatar

22/10/2014 03:13:44 am

So it all happened in 2007. Whilst Chaudhry's millions was being exposed he was trying his best to cover his tracks and suck up to the regime and Bainmarama.Bai's leave back pay of $287000 was approved.The first time such leave pay of that amount was earned by any military officer.And lets not forget some other officers benefitted from the same kind of leave backpay including Teleni, Natuva and Naupoto.
And it was also during the same time that Teleni and Natuva were signing army LPO's to LOTUS Garments, left, right and centre, that busted the Army budget for the year by nearly $i billion. All that happened during Chodo's watch as Minister for Finance.

fallen leader link

22/10/2014 03:56:05 am

From being a fighter for the rights of the common citizen Mahendra Pal Chaudhry become a man who started to use his position of leadership to feather his own nest. It is a sad decline but it is not an uncommon one. Many leaders go to seed that way - especially when they cling to power.

Sala CHOR Bainimarama - CHOR

22/10/2014 04:41:18 am

If only Chaudhary had given some 'rice and dhal' to the poor and suffering REFUGEES, he would not have seen this disgraceful day in his life. Chaudhary became too greedy.

But the worst collaboration (of corruption) was between Chaudhary and Bainimarama in the LEAVE PAY saga of Bainimarama. It was Chaudhary who authorized that payment knowing that such payment was bogus, fraudulent and CHORI.

And then the CHOR Bainimarama pocketed the money knowing full well it was not his to keep. Just what kind of conscience does the Prime Minister of our counrty has - NON.

Sala CHOR Bainimarama.

power corrupt link

22/10/2014 01:37:43 pm

what we witnessed in the Chaudhry collusion with the dictator Bainimarama and Bainimarama enriching himself through the bogus "backpay" and God knows whatelse in his 8 year reign in absolute power is a case of power corrupting. The greater the power the greater the corruption.

Visama, Nakelo Murder of a drunked

22/10/2014 03:12:48 pm

Was the bogus LPO signing by Teleni/Natuva had strong ties and links with Lotus Garment Director and reasons for RFMF rushing to calls made by a family member from Nakelo to RFMF to sort out the drunked in 2007?

rajend naidu link

23/10/2014 03:51:51 am

Editor,
If the boss of the corporate regulator in Australia can describe Australia - a First World democracy - as " a paradise for corporate crooks" ( ABC 24 News 23/10) imagine what it must be like in what the Nobel Prize winning economist Gunner Myrdal called the "soft states" - with weak democratic checks and balances?
Myrdal's " soft state" analysis provides a valuable explanatory framework for an understanding of the Auditor General's report on how official state business was conducted during the past 8 years of dictatorial rule in Fiji.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

A day late and a dollar short: The Auditor-General's reports were hidden from the voters so FijiFirst Party could go to the polls as 'squeaky clean'

The Question Remains: Why they hid their salaries for eight long years? And how much was Aunty Nur Bano Ali's company paid by the regime?

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