The “salary payout” of more than $800,000 to “public servants” working at the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure has been cited by the Controller and Auditor General, Fuimaono Camillo Afele.
Another issue noted by the Auditor is the delay in reporting irregularities to the Ministry of Finance as required for the investigation of damage or loss of Government assets.
This is outlined in a letter sent to the former CEO, Magale Hoe Viali in February this year, where the Auditor questioned the status of the Ministry’s response on the issues they cited from the audit findings last year September.
Obtained by Radio Polynesia, the Auditor’s letter dated 21 February 2022 came three days after Magele’s contract was cancelled and he was no longer working.
Under the analytics review of payments, Fuimaono noted the total spending by the Ministry amounted to $12.48 million with the majority of payments of grants to State-Owned Enterprises and private companies for services procured.
The Auditor noted, “the second-highest is the salary payout to public servants added up to $857,856.53.”
This is outlined under the Ministry’s spending whereas the Auditor “encourages close monitoring and reconciliations for all payments made and revenues received.”
Repeated efforts to get comments from the MWTI’s Acting CEO, Muliagatele Pa’ulino Pania regarding the “salary payout” were unsuccessful as of press time.
Also indicated in the Auditor’s report is that the majority of payments were made for utilities and insurance of Ministry vehicles.
Copied on the letter were Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and Minister Olo Fiti Vaai.
The Auditor noted three areas that require “improvement” and the Ministry should consider further remedial.
The reviewing of the debtor’s creation process as well as policies to uphold the recovery of debtors; review and ensure compliance of the Ministry of Procurement processes and compliance of the Ministry against the treasury instruction regarding the maintenance and handling of fixed assets and irregularities.
Regarding irregularities, the Auditor stated that after their assessment they found out there is a continuous issue of delayed reporting of Irregularities.
“The Ministry of Transport team is aware that all and any Irregularity Report case that involves loss or damage to Government assets or properties reports shall be submitted immediately and must not be delayed pending completion of any departmental or Police investigation as per Treasury Instructions 2013.
“This is a serious issue in which the Management should address ad action should be taken immediately to ensure better internal controls and processes to effectively and efficiently safeguard and control Ministry spending and assets.”
The report says the Auditor noted the existence of long-overdue debtors which are more than a year old, remain outstanding, and have yet to recover.
‘Some of the debts were from 2018 which reflects slow recovery procedures by the Ministry.
“Audit recommends management to consider their approach to debtors; the process of how a debtor is created, a policy to manage the expected amount recoverable and ensure extra measures are taken to recover these ousting debtors.”
Emails were also sent to the Auditor General for comments on whether the MWTI responded to the issues cited in his letter, but there has been no response.
