A report from the Director of Audit has confirmed that he recommended more than a year and a half ago that the police look into what the report described as questionable financial transactions at state-owned DBS radio.
The matter is contained in the Director of Audit’s report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.
That report was submitted to Finance Minister Roosevelt Skerrit last month by Director of Audit Clarence Christian.
According to Christian, a financial audit conducted into the financial affairs at the Dominica Broadcasting Corporation – a wholly owned entity of government – has unearthed certain questionable transactions.
The Director of Audit says those transactions need to be explained by former DBS General Manager/Accountant Marriette Warrington, although the report does not mention her by name.
Christian says the audit of the public accounts committee for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010 unearthed a gas account at a local gas station operated solely by the former General Manager on behalf of DBS, “with a reconciled balance of EC$32,000.00 which remained unaccounted for”.
“The gas account and balance were never brought to the attention of the Board of Directors or the external auditors of the Corporation,” the report states.
“The balance on the gas account never formed part of the Accounts Payable records of the corporation and was not part of the liability listing on the audited financial statement,” it said.
The report also indicated that for the period January 1st 2007-December 31st 2008 petrol purchases utilizing local purchase orders from the Corporation in the amount of EC$11,548.99 were approved solely by the former General manager.
It said “although the local purchase order of the Corporation was being used and the account was in the name of DBS Radio, there are no indications that these purchases ever formed part of the accounting record of the Corporation”.
The audited records also revealed that $155,994.66 was deposited into the company’s account at a local bank, of which $79.052.29 was withdrawn by the general manager without the approval of the Board of Directors.
“There were no records or documents presented to the Office of the Director of Audit to indicate that the withdrawals were for gratuity payments. Furthermore, the audit revealed that most of those withdrawals were cash drawn over the counter with no indications as to the purpose of these withdrawals except on a few occasions,” the report stated.
The audit report also revealed that on June 30th 2010 a number of the Corporation’s staff had salary advance balances totaling to $96,304.50, notwithstanding the fact that the Corporation had no policies on staff advances and “such was granted on the sole discretion of the General Manager”.
It noted that the management structure was such that the general manager at the Corporation also functioned as the accountant.
“Of interest to the Officer of the Director of Audit, is the fact that three senior staff members had unpaid salary advance balances in the amounts of $43,763.75; $29.900.00 and $16,214.00. There are no indications that the Board of Directors had approved any of the foregoing amounts,” the report stated.
It also indicated that the office of the Director of Audit never received the cooperation of former General Manager/Accountant Warrington when the audit was being conducted.
She was given her marching orders in March of 2010 for alleged misconduct, including the $32,000.00 petroleum account controversy.
how this things keep happening and for so long and they still have workers in there that can still do it again they will do anything for money!
MARIETTE TAKE DE $$$$$$$$ TO TRY BUY SOME MANNNN……SHE TOO LIKE MAN
it look like this DBS making a lot of money
DNO Please keep us updated on this audit investigation…
the higher the monkey goes the more his behind is exposed
Once again I must ask,why does it take DNO two days to have my comments moderated?
DNO SAYS IT ASIT IT.
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THEM ALOT WOULD BE HIDDEN.
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS WLK A STRAIGHT PATH AND DNO WILL NOT MIND MY BUSINESS.
WHAT YOU SAY?
Could not put it any better myself.
Keep up the good work DNO.
Basic accounting practices. The person approving expenditure should not be responsible for the accounts. Dominica seriously need to take on GAAP and follow the practices of what accountants learn in Acca, Cima etc
Twope comess en Dominique.
it happening other departments,just wait ok allu,dno will b reportin more like dat,poor people sons day sending stocky for joint n petty theft, i watchin.
Never in the history of our country have we seen so much corruption in government institutions.Why are we focusing on DNO reporting the truth. Let us deal with the issue here.
I hope she was not rewarded like Ian Monroe.
PLEASE DONT INVOLVE POLITICS IN DAT IS NOT EVERY THING THAT IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. WHAT ABOUT GREE?
Mr. Christian should put every audit not one
Put it where? All Audit reports are public information.
:-)
mr christian while i happy that whenever you recognised that infractions have been committed by managers or middle managers, it is only fair that you start with the binbobol, fertiliser bobol, blairecourt and de 400 thousand or sorry, de 6 million dollar house… then we can go down the ladder…
Well well when we finish we saying Dominica doh have money? Whether or not is de woman picture they showing that responsible the mere fact discrepancies like that can happen at such a very small Corporation says MUCH TOO MUCH. Even with the Finanacial Insitutions, when I hear of employees are able to forge people’s account its unbelievable that we keep hiding behind the notion that dominica doh have money.
But DNO, isn’t this former manager of DBS a UWPwee appointee to a high profile commission in Dominica?
OHHHHHHHHHHHH SHUTTT IT!!! OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT doesn’t even have a FORENSIC ACCOUNTING department to investigate these thing’s is DNO allu want to give hard time???? If there is no LEGAL DETERRENT inside STATE CORPORATIONS to prevent these people from MISMANAGING public funds and acting irresponsibly in these positions. TELL US SELFFFFFFFFFF DNO, tell us about the one by the PWC tell us about the cabinet approved asphalt plant and the one which was bought, tell us about the NTI and and and and and and…………………….
TELL US so it will DETER OTHERS, none of them haven’t go JAIL yet for all what you telling us…….. sotellusman!
based on what the director of audit states I’m asking..
The General Manager of the Corporation also functioned as the accountant.
Sounds familiar? It’s like the PM functioning as everything else but a Prime Minister. The audit report ended June 30th 2010, and was submitted to the PM but up to know no action.
What i want to know is how comes is now they auditing DBS??? we just ended financial year 2012, going into 2013 and they talking about audit report for 2010??!! I can understand 1 year late, but 2 years??? That ain’t right.
DNO, I got a copy of the Director of Audit Report and I dear say it is a highly professional well written document.
In my view the report highlights the overall financial management of the Government and detailed weaknesses in many areas.
I find areas as Notes 8a & 8b, Chapter five, the Public Support Program, the National Debt, WCMF are all matters that should be highlighted by the local press.
These media reports on matters emanating from the Director of Audit report helps to develop an atmosphere of accountability and transparancy.
Dont mind the criticisms you are only quoting from the report.
so wait a minute…all of a sudden everybody and their nenen is an expert on media practice?
DNO, I have a suggestion for you…close down the frogging website and let Dominicans return to the days of stale Chronicle headlines and incomprehensible Sun lead stories…
I never!
Selective justice again…! Why was Mr Christian MOO MOO when the treasury was looted off more than half a million dollars? > $ 500 000.00
A COUNTY CANNOT MAKE PROGRESS LIKE THAT. I know i am hurting some people, but I AM SORRY that’s what the truth does!Don’t talk about GA vehicles on peoples privae rendezvous.
we need a level playing field re the justice system.
Mr Director of Audit…Did your report show the amount owed to DBS radio by the DLP from since election campaigns?
I agree DNO pushes the envelope just a little bit. But for the most part they are actually factual. We may not like to hear some of the reporting done there, but give them kudos for doing more investigative work than any other form of the media in DA. The reports do tend to quote the sources of the news and these can be fact checked. They are not allegations from a third party. Even if the report does not mention the name of the manager, it can be factually ascertained who the manager was; unless of course that is in doubt. Of course we have to admit that sensational news drives ratings everywhere, so who can blame DNO for highlighting a government report on a high level official? On the extended issue of Ms Cuffy, again DNO reported what was transmitted by a US county law enforcement agency, on their website. Nobody was condemned as being guilty. It is indeed embarrassing to many people, but this is news, it should not have a bias to report on police outcome with a paro and not report on such an outcome witha well known official. News is news. Sometimes it hits close home, but I see nothing wrong with quoting an official government source of a report, as long as it is clear who makes the report. An open investigation sometimes point fingers that eventually gets clarified or proven wrong, but really this is standard journalism practice, reporting on an official report. Though this may be embarrassing, its the job of the media, as long as the story is effectively quoted.
so when the director of audit advises the finance minister who is a sevant of the state to take a certain action and he does not and persons keep geting away like that , can the president do something, though i dpubt. then that is why i think we need an elected president who works and not just a fashion and good times president.
Same like the story in the Grandma news paper where Dominica was found joining ALBA in kicking out USAID; You see how things come back into our faces.
Moun domnique plee sot tan ca…
Facebook is a public domain the material there is not in any way protected. If you do not desire for your likeness to be reproduced then simply do not paste a picture. For that reason my son has never been on Facebook. the more important matter at hand is the case of the disappearing cash. ci yo cah voleh, meteh yo a stockfarm. Corruption should not be tolerated and if there is indeed evidence of wrongdoing then the perpetrators should be persecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Moral of the story: make sure your facebook picture is one you wouldn’t mind being used on DNO if you are accused of any crime.
The Director of Audit says those transactions need to be explained by former DBS General Manager/Accountant Marriette Warrington, although the report does not mention her by name.
“ALTOUGH THE REPORT DOES NOT MENTION HER BY NAME” but DNO POST her FB picture and her NAME!” she has no been charged, not even named not questioned, bondieu all you need to stop
**reasonable assumption** DNO is protected!!
She was not charged with any crime ..but there was only “ONE DBS GENERAL MANAGER” for the period that the auditor is refering to. She was the only one who held that position.
Therefore it is a fact that this person was the only person that held such a position during which the professional misconduct occured!!
DNO is protected!! She cannot take any legal action!!
the dear lady was manager at the time in question and the report referred to the then general manager.DNO is well within its right to name her and put her picture there. Not only that the post of General Manager is a singular position not one where you can question but who they talking about nah?
nonesense if is a big lotto she had won all you would want many pictures of her. let the nation know all persons in high position in our country. so when you ask a child who is the ceo of some office of high standing in our country , they will be able to answer correctly.by now can she deny that she held that position during that time, man get real and come back to earth.
While we may want to commend Mr. Christian for this he should however be as thorough in all other areas of governance where state finaces are concerned. This selective form of investigation in doesn’t cut it.
DNO: Why was the rest of my comment cut off? My comment was in no way libelous, scandalous or defamotory nor was it implicating anyone or infering any ill motives. I just simply asked wheter the director of audit had investigated the ill proprierties of a former DBS board. i NEVER mentioned a name. It was public knowledge of mmetings that were called klandestinely to benefit borad members
DNO again. going on people facebook profile and taking their picture. hmmmmmm. one day i will see a lawsuit coming allu way and u know i will take the front seat in court.
ERASE IT IF ALLU WANT, BUT ALLU READ IT
Simply Blessed what wrong with you? Do you understand Facebook? Facebook is public knowledge…Once on FB anybody can access it….Educate yourself boss…
But you still reading DNO camem.
Hahahahahaahahahaah
well dont put your picture on facebook
It appears that DNO reporting is not legally guarded or maybe they have a very powerful legal team.
You guys kill me…Please explain your comment. Do you realize that this is coming from an audit report? Do you know what an audit report is? obviously not…..SMH
……”although the report does not mention her by name.”
Marriette’s photo added to the report.
Who was the General Manager during the auditing period? ME then… hence the reason DNO included her picture.
**ACCOUNTABILTY**
All I can say is Wow!! Again, ACCOUNTABILITY is needed in all governments offices and entity!!
I’m not saying the woman is guilty… I don’t know!!But we just deserve an explanation. People must be held accountable when they should. This is taxpayers money!!
Thank you Mr. Clarence Christian, you did your job!!
Thank you????????????? hmm who will guard the guard, pleae tell me.
*please
Thank you?????????????? who will guard the guard please tell me.
This is cheap journalism, guys professionalize your journalistic skills please, lets move to the next level, what if you guys have to face a law suit for defamation of character????????
CIA on the watch, i second your comment. if i knew you personally, I would shake your big toe.
**WHAT LAWSUIT**
What would the lawsuit be for?
Did DNO say she was guilty of any crime?
All they did was matched the person face/picture to the position in question who held the position the auditor was refering to!! I’m assuming they have the correct picture to the name??
Otherwise…YAH!! DNO, you would be in trouble!!
I would advise you read on the elements of defamation of character and then call your Lawyer to sue DNO on behalf of Mariette Warrington.
The Auditors report was very clear and needed no guessing that the person in reference was Mariette Warrington. DBS is a statutory board and the public has a right to know.
The auditors report is a public document. Maybe you should attack the Auditor, but not DNO.
You are completely misguided.
yes iyah that d.n.o dere…. one day somebody will win a lawsuit against allu eh… cause u all might slip up… it doesn’t mention the name of the former manager/accountant… yet u suppose she has to answer… i’m not saying ur wrong… because based on the year the audit represent the she could be the one in charge during the period… but oh oh… to actually have the nerve to post name and photo when the auditor didn’t even mention a name… allu really fast…..
. hhhmmmmmm is deeerrrttt i want to know….
Clarence only EC$32,000.00 I thinking is millions u talking about, u fellas can victimize people boy, what about the millions in the Bin Bobol, what about those famous villas, u fellas do everything upside down, instead of looking at millions which can save the state alot and feed needy families u looking at less
DNO how dare you impute improper motive on the part of the woman and you even put up her picture???
Didn’t you learn anything from the Kathleen Cuffy debacle???*tongue in cheek*
I am sorry. I could not resist.
Car
And what happen to the debacle? was she cleared by the american courts or was her lawyer just doing his job?