I act on behalf of the Minister of Finance (“the Minister”) who has passed to me a copy of your letter to him dated 28’h April 2024 with instructions that I respond to same on his behalf.
Your letter addresses the circumstances surrounding attempts by public servants attached to the Ministry of Finance and the office of the Comptroller of Accounts to bring to the attention of the Auditor General errors discovered in the public accounts after they were submitted to her on 31st January 2024. It does not appear to be disputed that the Auditor General did not accept the relevant documentation pertaining to those errors until 15th April 2024 and that she submitted her report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate on 24’h April 2024.
On the same day, the Auditor General delivered to the Ministry of Finance a Management Letter dated 23rd April 2024 which, amongst other things, identified certain errors in the accounts and requested certain explanations relating to the errors identified, and invited the Ministry’s comments on the findings, observations, and recommendations contained in the Management Letter.