During Tuesday’s House of Assembly sitting, opposition members questioned government ministers on topics ranging from audited reports to cattle roaming the streets of the territory.

Opposition Leader Andrew Fahie (R-D1) asked Premier Dr. Orlando Smith (R-at large) about the status of government’s audited financial statements from the years 2012-2016.

The 2010 and 2011 auditor general reports were made public in April of this year and the rest have remained behind closed doors, something Mr. Fahie has brought up repeatedly as evidence of government’s lack of transparency.

Dr. Smith, who also serves as the minister of finance, said government’s 2012-2015 financial statements have been completed and submitted to the auditor general for review, and that the 2016 statement would be submitted by its due date at the end of this month.

Because the Office of the Auditor General is constitutionally independent, the premier said he was unable to say when the reports would be completed.

Opposition member Julian Fraser (R-D3) asked about the corresponding accountant general’s reportsfrom 2010 and 2011, which he maintained should have been tabled alongside the two auditor general reports that were made public in April.

Accountant general reports are the documentation of government money that is submitted to the auditor general for review.

“The account general’s annual reports for the years 2010 and 2011 have been completed,” Dr. Smith responded. “Once they’ve gone through the relevant checks and approval processes they’ll be submitted to the House.”

He reiterated that the 2012-2015 accountant general reports are also complete and awaiting review from the auditor general.

SEE THE JUNE 15, 2017 EDITION FOR FULL COVERAGE.

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