(Kaieteur News) – Public sector contractors have fully repaid or cleared all state overpayments identified in previous audit cycles, Auditor General Deodat Sharma revealed on Friday as he submitted his 22nd annual report on the nation’s public accounts to Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir.
The disclosure comes as the Audit Office moves toward real-time auditing of state disbursements, including public assistance cash grants and pension payments, to catch financial irregularities as they occur rather than relying solely on post-payment reviews.
“In terms of the overpayment for the past couple of years, if you notice, all overpayments have been recovered or the contractors have done their work,” Sharma said during a media conference following the formal presentation to Speaker Nadir, Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs, and members of the Public Accounts Committee.
Auditor General, Deodat Sharma
The presentation of the report marks the 15th consecutive year the Audit Office of Guyana has met its statutory September 30 deadline. Alongside the main public accounts report, Sharma submitted a performance audit on the Implementation of the Solar Home Energy Program in Guyana’s Hinterland and Riverine Communities, bringing the total number of performance audits conducted under his tenure to 19.
The Auditor General emphasized that the Audit Office has had to rapidly scale its institutional capacity and technical capabilities to match Guyana’s expanding national budget, which has grown from G$883.1 billion in 2021 to a record G$1.558 trillion in 2026.
To keep pace with the influx of large-scale infrastructure projects, engineers within the Audit Office’s Works and Structures Division have completed Project Management Professional training to evaluate complex contract delivery, resource allocation, and contractor performance. The Public Service Commission also recently approved three additional engineer positions to strengthen structural project scrutiny.
Other capacity-building developments detailed in the submission include a comprehensive review of Central Government audit planning conducted by 31 senior managers, supervisors, and auditors, alongside technical training for 24 audit clerks. Three officers participated in Information Systems Audits and Digital Public Infrastructure training in India under the ITEC Programme, while 20 officers underwent data protection and cybersecurity training.
Sharma also announced plans to resubmit a proposal to the Public Service Commission to establish a specialized Oil and Gas Division within the Audit Office. He explained that while the office currently audits managing entities like the Natural Resource Fund, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, a dedicated unit is required to handle the technical complexities of the sector.
During the media segment, Sharma fielded questions regarding several high-profile state projects and ongoing investigations. He confirmed that the Audit Office is currently conducting special forensic investigations at the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport concerning vouchers.
On the Gas-to-Energy project and regional infrastructure like the Bellevue pump station and the Region 1 wharf, Sharma confirmed that his office is actively monitoring these developments, though specific findings remain confidential until the report is formally laid before the National Assembly. Addressing concerns regarding the seaworthiness of state ferries operated by the Transport and Harbours Department, Sharma noted that while financial statement audits are ongoing, physical vessel assessments are evaluated during financial examinations.
When questioned about claims that he had sought a two-year extension of his tenure past retirement age from President Irfaan Ali, Sharma declined to elaborate, stating, “No comment. You can ask the President.”
The complete Auditor General’s Report will become public record once it is officially laid on the table of the National Assembly.
Source: Kaieteur News
