The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

URBAN Renewal Co-chairs Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and Algernon Allen have offered disingenuous criticism of the auditor general’s audit of the initiative’s Small Home Repairs Programme, East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest said yesterday.

The Urban Renewal co-chairs have criticised the report and the motive of Auditor General Terrance Bastian. The co-chairs refused to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) unless the audit is removed from the scope of questioning. They said the report has not gone through the proper parliamentary channels, adding that they would not take part in an “illegal process”.

They also said the auditor failed to consult the prime minister, minister of works, and either co-chair prior to finalising the report.

However, Mr Turnquest said PAC members learned yesterday that the report was sent to the Office of the Prime Minister, the financial secretary and the Urban Renewal permanent secretary before the committee itself was provided with a copy of the report.

“To say they didn’t have it is to say they didn’t want to have it,” he said.

The PAC had expected to meet Mrs Pratt and Mr Allen yesterday to discuss matters pertaining to the report.

However, in a letter to the committee delivered Wednesday, the co-chairs said they would not be able to attend because of prior engagements. Mr Allen said he had previously made plans for his birthday while Mrs Pratt was set to travel for medical attention.

However, while he did not attend the PAC meeting, Mr Allen did appear at the renaming ceremony yesterday for the Marjorie Davis Institute for Special Education at the former grounds of Our Lady’s Catholic School on Deveaux Street.

“We are advised that the audit report of the Urban Renewal Commission has not yet been presented to the minister of finance or to the Cabinet of the Bahamas, nor has it been laid on the table of the House of Assembly, as are the appropriate and legal steps to be taken; and as such, we cannot participate in an inappropriate and illegal process,” the co-chair’s letter said.

However, Mr Turnquest yesterday said the co-chairs are wrong in this position, adding that while the auditor general submits an annual report to Parliament, the report under examination is a “special operation report” conducted throughout the year and doesn’t have to be tabled.

Asked what will be the committee’s next step in the matter, he said: “The House rules and committee rules dictates a certain course of action if a witness refuses to accept an invitation. The House rule will be followed and they will be compelled. They will be summoned.”

In an interview with The Tribune on Wednesday, PAC Chairman Hubert Chipman said he intends to get a subpoena to compel the co-chairs to appear.

The controversial Small Home Repairs Programme report notes that payments to contractors for more than $170,000 of work was not completed or done. It also noted that there was no competitive bidding for the home repairs contracts and the contractors were not required to have proof of all-risk insurance.

The auditor’s probe into the overall Urban Renewal programme has found that its internal controls are “weak”, leaving the initiative open to “abuse.”

Mr Turnquest said PAC members would meet again at the end of the month to determine the course of action.