Turnbull called out for views on COVID grants audit
One local business has taken issue with Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull’s views on the Auditor General’s (AG) COVID Grants Audit Report.
When the report was debated in the House of Assembly recently, Turnbull was among the legislators that rejected the report, saying it was not written according to international standards.
But EZ Shipping – a company that was called out in a previous AG report just months ago – has released a statement in which they call out Turnbull, saying he is blasting the new AG report because it isn’t in his favour.
EZ Shipping is the company that the Andrew Fahie government hired to secure the territory with radar barges for a period during the COVID-19 pandemic. But an Auditor General report published after that time had concluded that there were several abnormalities with those contracts. Turnbull was one of the legislators that supported the claims in that audit which EZ Shipping says caused some damage to its reputation and image.
See their full statement below:
Last week, the Auditor General’s report on the Examination of the House of Assembly’s COVID-19 Assistance Grants was debated before the House of Assembly.
Members of the House of Assembly criticised the Auditor General’s report on COVID-19 Assistance Grants, including the Honorable Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull, who was cited in the report. Mr Turnbull told the Assembly that the processes adopted by the Auditor General failed to meet the international industry standards and were woefully lacking.
Yet in March earlier this year, Mr Turnbull championed the flawed Auditor General’s Static Marine Platform Report and criticised other members of the Assembly who had challenged aspects of the report. Mr Turnbull has changed his tune after becoming the subject of the Assistance Grants report. He has turned on the Auditor General and dismissed her efforts, stating:
“I also will not be hypocritical in allowing certain things to be reported that create a narrative for the public to make in interpretation when the details which were submitted depict otherwise.”
EZ Shipping has commissioned an independent expert forensic accountant to review the flawed Auditor General’s Static Marine Platform Report. The forensic accountant’s report found that the Auditor General’s work was defective, failed to meet international standards and was inadequate.
A spokesman for EZ Shipping said:
“We have been the subject of rumour, innuendo, and reputational damage from a flawed report process where we were not asked to provide evidence before its publication. We were then attacked on the floor of the House of Assembly by members, one in particular who now pivots on his view of the work of the Auditor General when he is in the spotlight. All we ask for is for the facts to be fairly, objectively and independently assessed, which we are confident will show that we fully complied with our contractual obligations”.
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all ah ayo dutty
Who was the forensic accountant?
Were they independent and competent?
Where can I see the report?
The true Mitch Turnbull is being revealed to all. That man and his brother are no good. Even Eileen find them out and don’t want a thing to do with them.
That’s all. I’m done.
Because we are a disgraceful set of voters that vote according to what someone can give us, is why people like this guy is still in office today. There was this voter that blatantly said, if you want my vote, you will have to pay for it. Why then on election morning, this guys father drove up with the same voter to the polls to vote. This clown and the rest of those legislative poppyshows, is an embarassment.
No matter what these politicians and anonymous forensic accountants might claim, there is overwhelming evidence of massive corruption.
And the majority of the population knows it.
We really need to join the US. Perhaps then we will get semi-competent legislators.
You would know very well because you must be the ringleader
Exactly. Who was the forensic accountant.
Anyone could be hired to rule in someone’s favour.
Just like AG did. Professional and reputable firms with will never jeopardize their reputation. Smarty aware.
It’s interesting that the majority of the people know yet voted for the same crooks. I see why some people can run for office until Jesus comes and they will never win because they have morals and will never treat the public purse like it’s theirs.
We wear what we buy.
Which brother? The pastor who promotes POKER RUN?