An Internal Audit Department (IAD) is being established by Government to ensure that some of the issues highlighted in the 2021 Auditor General Report will never recur.The new department is expected to be in place within the next fiscal year 2023 to 2024.The IAD is expected to increase “public confidence” in the management of the country’s financial affairs, according to Government’s response to the highly-publicised report.Amid public criticism, Prime Minister Mia Mottley and several of her ministers have frequently maintained that there was no evidence of corruption in the most recent report.They conceded that the issues highlighted were as a result of accounting deficiencies.“Provision was made, with the passing of the Public Finance Management Act, 2019, for the establishment of an Internal Audit Department that would enhance transparency, accountability and good governance with respect to the utilisation of the people of Barbados’ resources. Although this has not been done to date, as much of the national focus has been on the COVID-19 pandemic and other external shocks, it is our intention that this be done within the next fiscal year, 2023-2024.
