Recently completed audits of the accounts of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) and the National Carnival Bandleaders Association (NCBA), as reported exclusively in the Sunday Express, are a serious indictment of their financial management and their accountability for State funds.
Given the financial history of Pan Trinbago, the upcoming audit of the national steelband body’s accounts may well uncover an even worse state of affairs. Though long overdue, these Government-commissioned audits are to be welcomed as the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts lays the groundwork for a transparent and policy-based funding of the bodies responsible for managing key elements of Carnival.
With the Government under financial pressure, it makes sense for the ministry to get a detailed understanding of how the millions of taxpayers’ dollars that go into Carnival have been used. However, while the extent of financial irregularities uncovered by auditors, Ernst & Young Services Ltd for the period January 2013 to December 2016 is staggering, it is hardly surprising given the track record of these and other bodies in the cultural sector.
That being said, however, this is not a fiasco from which the State can separate itself. While current Culture Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly has done the right thing in commissioning the audits, the ultimate responsibility for this state of affairs rests with successive governments which have all turned a blind eye to financial abuses of all kinds as long as it suited their political interest.
It is the State’s failure to implement policies that link State funding to transparent and accountable management that has allowed public funding to become an unregulated trough.
Especially when oil prices are high and money is no problem, governments have used public funds to spread patronage through special interest groups as a means of organising the vote to keep themselves in power.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20171022/editorial/biting-the-carnival-funding-bullet
Replies
Claude the way things lookin like Mr Diaz days numbered, no one want him in charge of anything, it will be interesting watching his role in the upcoming 2018 season.
Come September in Trini lingo means late October or early November, don't worry Pan Trinbago turn next.
Cecil: Ah see how these cards going and fall. The recommendations made after the TUCO and NCBA audits is to UPGRADE THEIR ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS for greater accountability. Well, they have to use the same YARDSTICK for PAN TRINBAGO. So at the end of the day, KEITH DIAZ will be told that he is going to be held to a higher standard of accountability FROM TODAY ONWARDS and he will say: I am willing to comply with the new standards set by the GOVERNMENT, as a matter of fact we are taking steps in that direction RIGHT NOW.
So past sins will be forgiven and new standards implemented and me and KEITH DIAZ will just find more inventive ways to keep the BOBOL rolling.
Sweet Sweet Trinidad/fus ah love meh country bad/when ah dead please bury me/in the center of the city.
"Given the financial history of Pan Trinbago, the upcoming audit of the national steelband body’s accounts may well uncover an even worse state of affairs."
Am I reading the WRONG DATE on this article? I coulda swear that I hear Doctor Dolly say that the AUDIT into PAN TRINBAGO will be completed by SEPTEMBER 2017. This is OCTOBER (fast going on November) and according to this article the audit is UPCOMING. And the editorial says: "It may well uncover" -- most people know that is a CERTAINTY if it EVER HAPPENS.
odw better explain DIS TING to me!!!