HOA Speaker orders investigation into leaked Auditor General’s report

HOA Speaker orders investigation into leaked Auditor General’s report

An investigation has been ordered by House Speaker Halson Moultrie on a special Auditor General’s report on the stipends and honoraria of the Department of Education, which was recently leaked to the media before being tabled in parliament.

“According to the log provided by the Auditor General, this report was received at the receptionist desk by the receptionist on September 13, 2018, but the report never reached the acting clerk and never reached the speaker’s desk,” Moultrie explained in Parliament yesterday.

“However, by some circumstances, it found its way to the Tribune newspaper [and] that is most unusual and most unacceptable.”

The report, which covered the period from July 1, 2014, to February 28, 2018, is also under investigation by Ministry of Education officials who have reportedly made significant changes in the department as a result.

Moving forward, Moultrie said that the policies and procedures will be amended on how reports are received from the Auditor General.

“We are also requesting that the Auditor General supply parliament with 60 copies so that all members are able to receive their entitlement – that is of all documents tabled,” Moultrie declared. “As this is an ongoing investigation, I wish to make no further comments on this matter.”

About Genea Noel

Genea Noel is the news director and weeknight TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. She began working at Eyewitness News in 2018 as the newsroom editor and was subsequently promoted during her tenure. As a household name who graces the screens of thousands of Bahamian homes each night, Genea has racked up an impressive five Bahamas Press Club awards, including “The Cyril Stevenson Award for Outstanding Political Journalism” (2020), “Best Studio Live Producer” (2020) and “Best Newscast” (2018).