3 Jun 2005

Solomons' deputy auditor general outlines cost of past corruption

7:12 am on 3 June 2005

Hundreds of thousands of US dollars have been lost through poor management, corruption and fraud in the Solomon Islands government.

That's according to the Deputy Auditor General, Richard Woodgate, who's been speaking to a Political Governance Workshop for MPs and provincial premiers held in the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara.

Mr Woodgate was outlining what auditors had uncovered since the Office of the Auditor General had started work again after the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission in mid-2003.

Mr Woodgate said auditors had found widespread non-compliance with the Public Finance and Audit Act.

He said there had been serious breakdowns in critical management and accounting systems, and there were millions of Solomon Islands dollars of uncollected arrears in fees and licences.

Mr Woodgate said he wanted to see the Auditor General's Office as a self-sustaining and effective, supreme audit office.