Audit Delayed

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Melissa Edwards/BVI Platinum News
Premier Hon. Dr. Orlando Smith [left] and Hon. Mark Vanterpool, Minister of Communications and Works

(PLTM) - The audit on the controversial multi-million dollar cruise pier and land side development is delayed and a new date for submission by the firm hired to carry out the audit has not been given.

KPMG, an internationally-recognized firm with headquarters based in the Netherlands, commenced the audit on the project sometime in May of last year, as ordered by Premier Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith. There have been allegations of corruption on the pier project.

KPMG, which also has an office in the BVI, is being paid $194,000 to conduct the audit and was scheduled to submit the findings within three months after work commenced.

Financial Secretary, Mr. Neil Smith told reporters this week that the firm realized that more work has to be done.

"The Premier has really pushed that hard. It's not a simple audit. It's an audit that has the capacity for forensic work, so KPMG, they are really taking their time and making sure that they have all their ducks in order, because when the audit is finished, we want that issue to disappear," Smith said.

He said the government also wants to know if anything went wrong with the project and the audit will determine this.

"We ourselves in government, the Premier is interested to know whether something went wrong himself. So we are not leaving any stones unturned, to make sure that we cross every T, dot every I," Smith noted.

The FS said, "As far I am aware, they are gathering information in addition to assessing the information they have."

He said that the report was expected to be completed by year end.

"…But they (KPMG) weren’t able to do that...That is an issue, (they would) like to fix shortly."

Premier Smith had indicated previously that the terms of reference will be included in the report when it is made public. At that time, the scope of work will be known, including if indeed forensic auditing took place, which will include a look at allegations of fraud.

Since the Premier's announcement in January 2016, government has been criticized as many, including the Opposition, are concerned about government being allowed to investigate itself on the allegations of corruption on the $83M project.

Many expressed that they are not comfortable and felt that Governor John Duncan should have intervened.

Opposition Member, Hon. Andrew Fahie has maintained that the government should not be allowed to investigate themselves. Hon. Fahie believes that the Acting Auditor General should also do an audit on the land side, separate from KPMG.

"I don't see the need for KPMG because I feel given all with this project, it should have been done from an independent source of the government. I maintain that you cannot look into yourself. I feel that it is time for the Acting Auditor General to do their share; that is a constitutional body that cannot be directed by anyone," he previously pointed out.

Hon. Fahie said, "The (AG) should do an audit of land side...and KMPG do theirs...but this project, every time you don't want to go back to it, something else comes up."

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