National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad is asking what is the Attorney-General trying to hide by preventing the Auditor-General from scrutinising the finances of Energy Fiji Limited.
This was the question asked by Professor Prasad after the Minister for Economy gazetted regulations on 3rd December, exempting Energy Fiji Limited from audit by the Office of the Auditor-General.
Professor Prasad says this trashes accountability and transparency.
He says the Government still owns 51% of shares in EFL and eligible consumers own 5% with 44% divested to a Japanese consortium earlier this year.
Professor Prasad says by exercising his powers under Sections 6(1)(b)(i) as well as 19 of the Audit Act, the Economy Minister is suppressing the powers of the Auditor-General instead of empowering his office to conduct his work as an impartial and independent authority in respect of State entities.
He says until 31st July, Government guarantee of loans to EFL was $99.2 million.
The NFP Leader says the Government also obtained $210 million from divestment of 24% of shares to the Japanese consortium (which also purchased 20% of FNPF shares (EFL).
He says the Auditor-General has every right to carry out an audit of EFL.
Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has exercised his powers conferred on him under the Audit Act 1969, and exempted off-budget State entity, Energy Fiji Limited from audit by the Auditor General.
The regulation has been gazetted.
Fijivillage sent questions to Sayed-Khaiyum late Tuesday to clarify why EFL has been exempted from being audited by the Auditor General’s Office.
We also asked him on his thoughts on the accounts not being audited by the Auditor General although 51% of EFL shares are owned by the Government.
Follow up questions were sent again on Wednesday however he is yet to clarify the reasons why EFL is exempted from being audited by the Auditor General.
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