The first ever Public Accounts Committee Training Workshop, has been deemed a success.
The Training Workshop was held in Grand Turk February 23 and 24, 2015 and was attended by His Excellency The Governor, Her Excellency the Deputy Governor, Members of the House of Assembly and Senior Accounting Officers/Management of the Government. His Honor the Speaker was also on hand to greet the senior Management of the Government. A number of supporting Staff and Heads of Department was also present. There was about 90% attendance by Accounting Officers and we were extremely pleased with this turn out. At the close of the 2 days, there was only one Ministry and Department that had not participated but we consider this a positive response,” said Chairman of the PAC, Hon. Sharlene Robinson.
“We believe that this Workshop has achieved its objectives and as suspected, the Mock PAC Hearing became the highlight of our time together. It was a session for PAC Members and Accounting Officers only and there was a complete reversal of roles with only a few PAC Members also serving as members of the National Audit Office. It was a fun learning exchange and certainly created a lighter environment. The Accounting Officers and members digested the content of a UK National Audit Office’s Report and performed their reversed roles admirably. It was certainly refreshing to observe,” she added.
As scheduled, His Excellency The Governor, Her Excellency the Deputy Governor and the Director of the Integrity Commission, shared on critical issues such as good governance, accountability and curbing corruption, while members of the PAC shared on the role of the oversight Committees and Audit Bodies. “The feedback received was positive and as members of the PAC we believe that it was successful,” said Hon. Robinson.
The Chairman of the PAC noted in the closing sessions, which were restricted to PAC Members only, members, together with the lead facilitator, agreed the way forward. “Mr. Philip Aylett was a great resource person and we are indeed grateful to the Governor’s Office for the funding which aided in the facilitation of his travel,” said Hon. Robinson.
The work of the PAC is a critical one and cannot be downplayed or stifled. It is critical to the public accounts of these Islands. As stated over and over during the Workshop, it is the goal of the PAC to have fewer and fewer audit issues raised and to eventually see cleaner and cleaner audits. This must be the goal of the Government and all financial oversight bodies and committees.
We have committed to ongoing training where necessary and look forward to reap the benefits of having a clearer understanding of our individual roles,” Hon. Robinson added.
