body,td,th { font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; }
The Audit Department is tasked with ensuring accountability and transparency as it relates to the people's money. Ministries, other departments, even government funded programs are at risk of being audited if there is suspicion of mismanagement. But if you ask the public, they'll say their tax dollars aren't being used properly, despite the efforts of the Audit Department.
And that's part of the reason why the Office of the Auditor General has been hosting consultation workshops around the country, to get feedback from the public on how they can improve, and to hear what they would like to prioritize.
According to the deputy auditor general, they're trying to establish that link between their office and the public. At the Belize City workshop, Maria Rodriguez told us more.
Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General
"I'm hoping that you are able to see our work. It's not that we are not auditing, we are auditing, however, we have some law restrictions that we cannot make our reports public so you all can't see what we have been doing for the past seven years, so we are working, we have work, and this is a forum to begin that kind of discussion, what the citizens want to see, because maybe they're not interested in everything. Some have interest in specific sectors and so that is why we're here to listen to them."
Reporter:
"But would you advocate for making these reports public?"
Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General
"Of course, definitely, that is definitely something that we are looking forward to, we have made a presentation on our new act and the new act actually requests that we can make our reports public to you all at the time of submission to the National Assembly."
"The reports should go to JPAC who will review them and hold the executive accountable, that's their role."
Reporter:
And has that happened recently where an executive was held accountable for mismanaging some type of money?
Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General
"That's a tough question. I would like to say that at least the reports are being reviewed. Let me just say that."
Reporter:
"But of course, these workshops will try to push that a bit further right?"
Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General
"Right and the public will know what is happening with these workshops, the workshops will enlighten them as to why our work is not out there and how they can assist us in getting it out there. If you are aware that we have a law prohibition, you will say, but how comes, let's make a change to that law."
Reporter:
"How fruitful have these sessions been?"
Maria Rodriguez, Deputy Auditor General
"Very fruitful, I'm very amazed at the information we have received. When we are at the office, we audit based on audit risk, the areas that we think is of high risk, but when we go to the citizens, we find out what you think is of risk. We were very much informed about situation like domestic violence, nothing happening with the assistance of the police department, those are things that as the Office of the Auditor General, you would not think of looking because it's not financial however they are government entities and we need to make sure they perform."
The workshop was born out of a collaboration with OLACEFS, which is the regional body for audit institutions. Consultants from Colombia were sent to facilitate the process. One of the members of Citizen Action Colombia told us his views on Belize's Auditing Department.
Andres Navia, Citizens Action Colombia
"They've been wonderful, as you've heard from Miss Maria, we've been traveling all around the country and the whole purpose of this exercise has captured the different concerns which have varied a lot and it's been very surprising and interesting to see how the audit office can actually act upon issues like domestic violence for example or land management or training programs for agriculture, many of these programs have government programs from the ministries and people had no idea that these programs could be audited. "
The most important aspect is to see if this money is being used properly to benefit the people, if this money is getting to the actual community needs in far away areas of the country.
Reporter:
What are some of the shortcomings you find with our specific office here in Belize? Andres Navia, Citizens Action Colombia
"As everybody knows, it's basically independence, a very small budget, and well this reflects in a very small staff, so it's very challenging for them to develop, for example, the programs that we support which are actually engaging these same offices with the community, that demands a lot of staff, money, time, so this is a fantastic program but if this office is not strengthened, it's going to be very difficult for them to reach the second phase and the auditing office in Belize, our AC Colombia is pretty much aware of the progress of the auditing offices and Belize has advanced tremendously in the ten years, they were way below in the scale of capacity and now they're reaching the mid level, there's a lot of room for improvement but there's clear will within this auditing office to become more technical, more sensitive to needs."
The program is being funded by the German Agency For International Cooperation.
