Governor hails Auditor General for COVID grants audit report
Although Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has dismissed the audit of the COVID-19 Assistance Grants, Governor John Rankin has expressed full confidence in the Auditor General and her team that wrote the damning report.
A total of $3,885,074 was awarded across 2,276 grants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Auditor General Sonia Webster concluded that there was a general lack of adherence to all the programme’s guidelines and in many cases, grants were given even though there was no evidence of need or that issues were brought on by the effects of COVID-19.
Premier Wheatley has described some of the AG’s conclusions as malicious and unnecessary.
But in a statement released last week, Governor Rankin backed the findings of the report, stating, “I fully support that conclusion and I once again thank the Auditor General and her team for their work. The methodology used in carrying out the audit is set out in the report and I continue to have full confidence in the Auditor General in carrying out her independent functions under the constitution.”
Important that lessons are learned
The Governor said what is most important is that lessons are learned from this audit, that public funds go to those in genuine need, and that mechanisms are in place to prevent abuses.
He noted the primary recommendation from the audit, which is that “the management of all assistance grants should remain within the remit of the Social Development Department.
“This will ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable persons are addressed and protected against abuses and unscrupulous activities,” Governor Rankin’s statement said.
The Governor also stated that he is pleased to see that the Ministry of Health & Social Development is currently consulting on a social assistance programme.
People urged to examine audit
Governor Rankin also urged the public to examine the report which can be found on the government’s website.
He said people should pay particular attention to the areas that address:
- Grant awards in excess of $5,000
- Business reduction grants
- Grants awarded by certain members of the House of Assembly to family members or other members of the House of Assembly (many of whom also received grants from other public assistance programmes)
The audit notes that the grants enjoyed some measure of success, as they were able to assist persons in financial hardship brought on by the pandemic.
At the same time, it finds that there were applicants who took advantage of the programme to obtain public funds to accommodate their lifestyle or otherwise obtain grants in the absence of genuine need.
These are the major findings of the audit:
- Grants were approved where applications were not supported by documentary evidence.
- There were no tracking mechanisms to prevent multiple awards to the same person.
- The requirement for the Financial Secretary to review and approve applications for awards in excess of $5,000 wasn’t adhered to.
- The transparency of many payments was lost, particularly for some large sums paid directly to some applicants.
- The Public Finance Management Regulations were not applied in the procurement of services for district/community works.
Members of the public have been expressing their views on the damning report, with many saying they were aware that many grants were not awarded to those most in need.
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It’s a time for unity not separation between the people.
He will hail her because it fits into their plan. BVI wake up. I am not defending our leaders because I think they did a lot of crap but the UK has an ulterior motive. We have to keep our eyes on both the local leaders and the UK.
‘Lessons are learnt from the Audit’?
The cavalier attitude with tax payers money shown by ALL in the Civil Service is terrifying!
Lessons learnt? How about some accountability?! How about some examples are made out of the complete an utter abuse of our money.
Public finance management regulations were not applied with Covid grants – Let us see what they do here with this one. This is exactly what they are harassing Myron about. We will see how they deal with this now. Watching closely.
Sonia Webster for Premier!
Most people see through the Governor. He sees nothing good at any time about the BVI and his people. All he looks for is anything to try to justify his plan which is not the will of the majority. We sick of him now.
ALL WHO INVOLVED IN THIS THEFT NEED LOCKING UP
The Governor needs auditing and being made to be held accountable by the people. No one can look into him but he can look into everyone while everything under his responsibility is a failure but he is allowed to cover it up. This is not democracy nor transparency. Tell him pay the public officers their increments. Tell him go open Cane Garden Bay & West End police stations and keep them open 24hrs. He has failed the people and the list is long. He will never see or saw anything good about the people of the BVI because he has colonial superior mentality and plans.
MONTHLY PAID GOVERNMENT WORKERS SHOULD OF NEVER GOTTEN THIS
EXTRADITE FAHIE FROM THE USA ASAP
Play stupid. You would be the same on bawling out to get rid of her. You better learn sense and stop endorsing people you don’t know. If you had know she you wouldn’t be talking this nonsense.
of nearly 4 million US dollars from the BVI Treasury seems to be the best description of the COVID-19 Assistance Grants program by the disgraced VIP government from 2019 to 2022.
Governor you are the only one with the capacity to quickly prevent this farce going any further .
DELILAH PUT BACK THE CRIMINALS TO STEAL MORE COOKIES FROM THE JAR
That is EXACTLY the narrative that the corrupt elected officials want you to believe and to push in order to allow them to continue with this nonsense. If the UK were to take over they would put in place correct procedures and policies to STOP this nonsense from happening. I don’t understand the people who believe the UK want to take over to ‘ruin’ the BVI…. can you honestly not see that the corrupt politicians using and abusing the wealth of the country to benefit themselves and their close friends and family are doing all of that damage and more?
So who exactly should be getting assistance… the expats??
And Lorna Smith join them to make them the government again
Listen ayo shut up!
I will say this only once. No one needs locking up! It was a grant given to the people who applied authorized by those who were elected by the people to get a relief from the same tax dollars they paid.
If you did not get is because you did not applied. Some are bawling like Sis J and she got her belly full and wanted more but you know how people are like babies needing milk. Cry cry cry baby until belly full.
Kill that noise, I wan’t to see the the version where no information is blocked. Seems to have something fishy going on.
What is the UK’s plan and what are their ulterior motives? I don’t understand what the UK could possibly gain, with a population of 25,000, a GDP less than .02% of the UKs, third world infrastructure, and a drug trafficking problem. I think they want to be rid of the BVI and the COI is way they can give the BVI independence without the UN saying they didn’t do enough to help when we turn into another Haiti.
Please let me know what I am missing.
Maybe – but it should not have been a way to reward family members and cronies at the expense of the residents in need.
Well based on her very public actions jn performing her salaried responsibilities, I salute her and I respect her.
Encore:
Sonia Webster for Premier!
Well, nothing bothers a WS more than a call for unity among the people. Just look at the thumbs down to confirm that notion. What have we done the world’s poeple?
I too hail the Auditor General.Job well done as usual
Why not the expats??! They pay tax as well!! It’s our money you xenophobic rare!!our , all of us who pay tax!!!!
Governor your Excellency, please dissolve the BVI HOA immediately, we Can not continue with these bunch thieves. All they helped were Thor cronies, friends and family. It is a same to see what this government is doing to us.
https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/hoa_covid-19_assistance_grants_report_-_aud_gen_amended_8_june_23.pdf?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Can you not see that the people against these investigations are the friends and family who have been benefitting all these years?
One of the wealthiest populations in the Caribbean – the world – and all they have is this fake colonial narrative that the UK is racist for trying to stop them stealing money we pay to government every month.
UK has run this place since
Oh, and they have the votes, too, unlike many, many paying, residing non-citizens. Change won’t come as long as greed is at the wheel.
All the fraudsters must be arrested and bail must be denied. Rebuild from the TOP DOWN.
I beg you hush your mouth regarding election. You think election is two cents? If there is a next election the loyalists are going to put back in their politicians because party politics rule and will always rule the BVI. Crazy set of people. We continue to call good bad and bad good. Carry on people and you will see.
I see one Kadeem Maynard received $17,000 and change to help out his business, which seemed to be doing well until the Feds got him.
His mother also got $8000 even though she was being well paid by the Ports Authority and presumably had other income from South America.
Welcome to BVI.
Do you think we’d know about this without the UK and the Governor?
I’d still like to know how the billions paid into Government since the 1980s got spent; given our third world infrastructure.
We haven’t even got reliable electricity or a working sewage system.
Those in need who PAYING TAXES.
WHAT IN THE WORLD.
Only belongers pay tax?
I’m starting to think the Office of the Governor is some kind of punk. What is going to be done?
U fall and hit your head ?