Public Accounts Committee Chairman, Alvick Maharaj says the Office of the Auditor-General had issued unmodified opinions on 13 of the 15 financial statements audited for the various government entities for 2016/2017 while SODELPA MP and Committee member, Aseri Radrodro says statutory authorities must submit all financial statements as per the timeline given to them as some entities provided delayed reports.
While speaking on the motion to debate the Review of the 2016/2017 Audit Report on Government Commercial Companies and Commercial Statutory Authorities, Maharaj says the Committee noted in the Audit Report during the scrutiny process that about half of the statutory authorities were yet to be audited at that time however, they commended the financial performance of some of the entities during the financial period.
Radrodro says this is the audit report for 2016 but looking at the report, the recommendation is based on a number of delayed audited reports that is submitted by the entities.
Minister for Transport, Faiyaz Koya says the report also highlighted the Land Transport Authority was given an unqualified opinion by the Office of the Auditor-General.
He says it noted some significant matters in this regard and the LTA established the Authority’s governance framework to improve financial management and operational efficiency.
Minister for Health, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete says the findings of the Auditor General has found that there was an unaudited account for the Fiji Medical and Dental Council 2016 – 2017.
He says with the consistency of the decision of the Permanent Secretary, Doctor James Fong and the Chair of the Council, they have been able to change the leadership in the Council and develop a more affluent system, including looking through the accounts.
