T&T Costly State failure to account,Incompetence or corruption?

T&T...A costly state failure to account.Incompetence or corruption?

Incompetence or corruption? These are two explanations for the failure of Government ministries and other State entities to provide required documentation to the Auditor General.In her report submitted to Parliament last Friday, Auditor General Jaiwantie Ramdass stated, “I have not been able to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide a basis for an audit opinion on the Public Accounts of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.”From the Office of the Prime Minister to the Central Bank to the Ministry of Public Administration, public servants failed to produce financial statements, letters of authorisation, or contracts to explain how money was spent.The worst offenders, perhaps, were the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services (MoSDFS), the Judiciary of T&T, and the Integrity Commission–not because of the magnitude of the sums unaccounted for, but because these are bodies that hold higher responsibilities.

In the case of the Commission, almost $111 million spent on accommodation and storage could not be verified because no contract was produced for audit.
The Judiciary was even worse. Three contracts for the refurbishment of the magistrates’ courts, costing almost $968 million, could not be verified. Neither could the Judiciary’s accountants produce 58 contracts valued at $114.5 million, or the lease agreements for 44 rental properties, or the Cabinet minutes approving $58.8 million for loans and debt financing.
In the MoSDFS, contracts worth $12 million awarded to five security companies were not provided for audit and $337,500 in rent was paid for an unoccupied property, plus $325,364 in security for this same empty building. Ministry employees also couldn’t produce two contracts valued $5.6 million for outfitting buildings, presumably so ministry staff could work in greater comfort.

The rule known as Hanlon’s Razor says, “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” In this situation, the principle means that incompetence should be considered more probable than corruption. Yet incompetence on this scale means that many public servants are not fit for duty, whether because of laziness, lack of skills, or mismanagement. Is this because of political or personal pullstring in hiring, or does the rot extend right back to the country’s education system?

T&T Express Editorial

.note:

How can any government pursue policies if the audits are not submitted?
How can the previous government plan and implement new budgets if audits are not submitted yearly?
Wonder why it has led to failed state status.

A poster noted, You wanted to be the government; now fix it?
It shows the lack of intelligence in such comment.

Weekly news time, and UNC mouthpieces choosing distraction rather than taking the opportunity to wow us with performance!

Sarge that will be small money for a big stager like you, maaan!!! Or you pulling a ThenBoe salary?

In reply to Halliwell

Before one can fix it. One must investigate to see the problems.
Then one must check the bank accounts...
If the central bank refuses to be audited (government 42 billion in overdrafts) and government entities haven't submitted audited statements in years, do you see a problem here?

Where are opportunities for performances?
T&T is on a lifeline. Eleven withdrawals from the HSF over 9 years—they were great at borrowing.

It has nothing to do with me?

The facts show 9 years of incompetent legislators in Parliament and a failure of due diligence.

In reply to sgtdjones

Just hold your cards close for now,
Wait until the government entities submit to an audit under the new regime

No place to hide

In reply to Halliwell

What cards are you expecting to see in T&T...I see why you noted you hated math.

Let’s break it down with a human, clear-eyed perspective, as if we’re two concerned citizens talking things over late at night:

The “Cards” on the Table:

Legacy Debt: Enormous, with Heritage’s ballooning liabilities and the hangover from years of borrowing to patch budgets. The principal keeps growing, interest compounds, and every refinancing just pushes the problem down the road.
Legal Liabilities: Hundreds of millions in overdue legal bills—these are not just numbers but obligations that can impact confidence and government operations.
Unpaid VAT: Billions collected but not remitted, which creates a trust deficit with businesses and the public. Repaying it now squeezes already-tight finances.
CLICO/SC Payouts: More than a billion in liabilities, with payments coming due. These are legacy wounds that keep reopening.
Audit and Transparency Issues: The Central Bank’s resistance to audit adds opacity at a time when trust is desperately needed.
Budget Shortfalls: Needing to borrow just to keep the lights on—this is a red flag for sustainability.

General Fiscal Management: The cumulative effect of nine years of what you describe as Cards means the new government starts from a deep hole.
Is there anything positive?
Let’s be honest: the positives are not obvious, and anyone claiming otherwise is either not paying attention or not being candid.

But, if we look for a sliver of hope, here are a few possible “positives” or at least places where positive change could begin:

A Clean Slate & Mandate: Sometimes, a crisis creates the political will to do things differently. The new government—if it’s transparent and bold—could use the audit findings as a rallying point for reform.
Public Awareness: The scale of the problem is now public, making it harder to sweep things under the rug. This can empower civil society and media to push for accountability.
Potential for Institutional Reform: The need to restore confidence—from the AG’s office to the Central Bank—might drive overdue reforms in transparency and public financial management.
Debt Restructuring Opportunities: With enough political will and international support, there is sometimes room to renegotiate terms or seek relief, though this comes with hard choices.
A Chance to Rebuild Trust: By being upfront about the challenges and inviting broad-based solutions (including from opposition and technocrats), the government can start to rebuild public trust, which is essential for long-term recovery.

But let’s not sugarcoat it:
This isn’t a “glass half-full” situation—right now, the glass is leaking from multiple cracks. The new administration’s job is to stop the leaks before they can even think about refilling it. That means tough decisions, clear communication, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.

The bottom line:
The problems are real, deep, and systemic. The only positive is the possibility—not the guarantee—that with clear eyes and steady hands, the country can begin to turn the ship around. But it will be a long, bumpy journey, with no easy wins.

I’m curious: what would you consider a sign of cards with these circumstances? Sometimes, hope emerges from the smallest signs of change.
Show us your PNM cards.

Sarge

In reply to sgtdjones But but but buh buh buh Sgt! Ain't you Caribbean blokes in the diaspora swear by socishitism?! Oh godd boi, yuh killin mih. Please stop nah boi.

In reply to BeatDball

This is what your Pal Rowley left after 9 years ...

• ↓Adjusted general Government debt increased by 92% since 2015. “Reckless borrowing” by the PNM racked up the debt to $145B billion

• ↓External debt has more than doubled from US$2 billion to US$5.48 billion over the same period

• ↓Net foreign exchange holdings have dropped by 50 per cent under the PNM from $10.5 US billion to $5.3 US billion. Today, T&T has a mere 7.5 months of import cover and Forex.

• ↓“Raiding” of the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund 11 times in nine and a half years to the tune of almost TT$20 billion

• ↓Non-energy sector collapsed by 12 per cent under the PNM

• ↓Energy sector plummeted by over 33 per cent

• ↓Agricultural output collapsed by 50 per cent

• ↓48,000 fewer persons with jobs today compared to 2015

Rowley left with a million-dollar-per-year pension. Citizens must tighten their belts with 3500 per month.

Mek UNC ask Himbert to come help dem,he might know a bit more