The Public Accounts Committee of the Anguilla House of Assemblyheld a two-day inquiry on Tuesday and Wednesday this week to assess the financial standing of the Government of Anguilla in complying with its obligations. The inquiry has been prompted by findings in the Report of the Chief Auditor on the 2014 Accounts of the Government of Anguilla.
The inquiry sought to:
a. establish the current position of the GOA finances as it relates to its obligations;
b. assess the ability of the GOA to meets its obligations under the Bank Resolution Obligations Act over the medium and long term based and its compliance with the fiscal responsibility act;
c. assess progress made by the Government of Anguilla to address concerns raised by the Chief Auditor in his 2014 report outlined in points 1-7 below;
1. funding the resolution of the banking crisis
2. collection of arrears in revenue which are recognized as increasing;
3. meeting the cost of future Government pensions;
4.paying unrecognized creditors;
5. the effective collection of Government revenue;
6. bringing Government finances into line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2013;
7. the precarious cash position of the Government of Anguilla; and
8. the deteriorating financial position of the Social Security Board;
d. and consider any other issues related to the scope of the inquiry identified by the Chief Auditor.
The Committee heard evidence on the 10th and 11th April at 1:30PM from:
Dr. Aidan Harrigan, Permanent Secretary Finance
Mrs. Patricia MacDonna, Accountant General
Mrs. Kathleen Rogers, Permanent Secretary Public Administration
Mrs. Monifa Brooks-Gumbs, Pensions Administrator
Mr. Russel Reid, Chairman of the Social Security Board and
Mr. Tim Hodge, Director of Social Security
The evidence sessions at the Atlin Noraldo Harrigan Building were broadcast live on Radio Anguilla and were open to the general public to attend.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
