Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis has established a three-man committee to create a greater synergy between the operations of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA’s) divisions and the Office of the Auditor General.

This follows the recent release of the Auditor General’s report, which highlighted irregularities in the THA’s management of covid19 relief support, including food cards, vouchers, rental assistance among other initiatives.

The report covered the period October 2019 to September 2020 and raised concerns about $8.5 million in relief support, noting supporting documents were absent and made it impossible to be certain that the aid went to those it was intended for.

Noting he was fed up seeing politicians use the Auditor General's report to make accusations of impropriety, Dennis said it was time the THA gets its house in order.

On Tuesday he denied the THA had engaged in corruption, claiming the reason procedures weren't stringently followed was because the pandemic forced officials to expedite aid to suffering people.

At the post executive council news conference on Wednesday at the Victor E Bruce Financial Complex, Scarborough, Dennis said the committee will be headed by Chief Administrator Bernadette Solomon-Koroma and the chief management accountant within the Office of the Chief Secretary, whom he described as a distinguished Tobagonian highly qualified in accounts.

Dennis said he will also consider putting a member of the audit department on the committee.

The committee has been given one month to come up with suggestions to create greater efficiency within the operation of the respective divisions.

“They will look at the current audit process. They will look at all of the shortcomings of the Tobago House of Assembly, not necessarily with respect the report but the process under which the audit is being conducted to ensure that we change the current status quo,” he said.

Dennis, in the wake of the report, met with Auditor General Lorelly Pujadas and several THA officials on Tuesday.

He said based on the findings and queries raised in the report, there appears to be a long-standing disconnect between the THA and the Auditor General’s office.

“I am not saying that the Auditor General lied on the Tobago House of Assembly. I am saying that there is clearly a disconnect at the level of the audit that is being conducted and documentation requested.”

He added, “For some reason, we are not always, at the level of the Tobago House of Assembly, able to provide accurate and timely information and timely documentation in response to the concerns of the Auditor General.”

Dennis said the findings of the report must be carefully considered.

“We cannot continue to have audit after audit….

"Of course every audit will highlight challenges and the Auditor General’s report must be looked at by us here in Tobago and in the Tobago House of Assembly, because it points us to areas that we should address and it points u