Government Reports Improvement in Annual Report Submissions

The Government is reporting an improvement in the submission of annual reports by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Wayne Robertson, made the disclosure while delivering remarks during the annual Audit Committees’ Conference at The Summit in Kingston on Thursday (November 7).

“Notwithstanding the progress made, there are still changes that need to be addressed, and the Permanent Secretaries have been mandated to work with their portfolio agencies to submit all outstanding reports. I am happy to report that that is being addressed and to ensure that future reports are, of course, submitted in a timely manner,” Mr. Roberston said.

The Financial Administration and Audit (FAA) Act, the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act, and the Executive Agencies Act require the submission of annual financial statements and appropriation accounts to the Auditor General’s Department (AGD).

Mr. Robertson emphasised that a “collaborative effort is essential to change the culture of non-compliance to a culture which prioritises excellence in all that we do, including accountability and continuous improvement.”

At the time of the Auditor General’s 2023 Annual Report, a total of 391 statements were outstanding, spanning fiscal years 2009/10 to 2022/23.

Of this number, 184 represent appropriation accounts and 207, the financial statements of Public Bodies.

Meanwhile, Mr. Robertson said the Permanent Secretaries Board has taken a proactive approach in accelerating improvements in this area.

“As Permanent Secretaries, we are not waiting passively for these findings that come up in reports. The Board has been taking a proactive approach to enhancing compliance, efficiency and accountability across the public service,” he stated.

Mr. Robertson noted that while the Government welcomes the audit report findings to take corrective measures, the aim is to mitigate the risks before they arise.

“Auditing should be moreso about improving systems, working with the entities to ensure that they have strong systems and they are adhering to the systems, the relevant policies and procedures and rules in general,” he stated.