Premier happy with trend in public accounts
(CNS): Premier Alden McLaughlin has said that some local pundits are increasingly “liberal with their criticisms but careful with their praise” when it comes to government, and despite what he said were real improvements in the public accounts situation, he expected some would still not be happy about it. However, speaking in the Legislative Assembly last week before 16 financial reports from government were tabled, he said he was happy with the trend and happy with the work of civil servants to turn things around. “Despite the naysayers, this government is doing its job and doing it well,” he said.
McLaughlin said that the announcement about the improvements in government accounting by him last month was greeted with cynicism but he said he believed there were genuine improvements and there was more good news coming. Of the 16 reports tabled in the LA last Thursday 75% were unqualified 18% had qualified opinions and just one late report from 2012 had a disclaimer.
The reports he said for 2013/ 2014 were looking very good and the expectation was that this could be the first year where government would not receive any disclaimers across the financial reporting entities.
“Just this week the auditor general’s office advised my office that a total of 24 out of 42 entities have been signed off by his office and 16 are unqualified and eight are qualified and two waiting a resolution of matters,” he said.
He admitted that not everything is well and government was still striving for improvement. But he said the auditor general had said he is happy with the improved position and happy with the trend that he is seeing.
“I am also happy with this as is my government,” he said. “I believe the country as a whole can be happy that the position and trend are improving. They will see further improvements…But I have been around long enough to know that no matter how well we do there will be some who will find no pleasure in this announcement and complain. There is an increasing tendency for the pundits to be liberal with their criticisms and careful with their praise but that is par for the course.”
Commending the civil servants he said they had worked long and hard to ensure the country was improving its accounting practices and he said he believed that government had now established a good working relationship with the auditor general’s office.
Category: Politics
OK then.. so now 2 people are happy about the economy & rampant cost of living!!
wow..
The Premier's haughty personality is showing more and more. With $1 billion unaccounted for and more than 90% of all government entity accounts still not presented and long overdue, only someone as pompous and disconnected as Alden McLaughlin would be congratulating all concerned (self-praise included). In acknowledge the little progress made, be humble man; don't make it into a high-five fest! There's a lot to be done!
Your comment says more about your negative outlook on life and haughty personality than the article does about Alden's personality. Your obvious dislike for Alden shows through clearly( a political opponent no doubt).It seems that you are dis appointed that some progress is being made,shame on you.
PPM blogging machinery hard at work again. Are you paid for per response or hourly?
We are finding more of the money you gave us! It was under the couch.
When you are in a deep hole, it takes time to dig yourself out of it.
At least the government is going in the correct direction now intead of digging the hole deeper and deeper.
Folks, try to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
So. The missing billion turned up did it?
08:38.A billion dollars missing,or the paperwork missing?
What typical 'small island mentalities.' What is wrong with giving praise where it is due? Do you know nothing about motivating employees? Small wonder that foreigners take advantage of Caymanians.
Crabs in a bucket.
Sounds tasty!
What's wrong with giving praise where praise is due? Nothing. Praise isn't due. That's all.
People are quick to pounce when things are done wrong… and quick to praise when things are done 1/10th partially correct. It's bizarre. 1 Billion unaccounted for. Until it's figured out, praise is not due at all.
Is he happy about the cost of living?!
What about the crime that plaguing the law abiding citizens?!
Does that matter to him?!!!
He wanted to be Premier, Christ sake BE PREMIER!!!
17:38.What happened,did you not get a handout.Is that your idea of being premier.You are nothing but A UDP supporter trying to score points and doing a lousy job of it.
Don't give us that cr*p. Anything less than full accounts from the entire public sector is a failure. You know and we know what's been going on and what continues to go on in the government and every single minute that it is allowed to continue is an indictment on your government. It needs to be fixed right now, and we need some accountability for the last 10 years. Stop patting yourself on the back.
And in other news, I only did 25% of the tasks I am supposed to do today and got fired. Oh for a government job!!
Praise where it is due amd it certainly is not even if the problem is not of his creation. It is disgusting to celebrate the state of the accounts.
I think the people responsible deserve a huge pat on the back! And perhaps a raise. And a small statue, and a holiday declared in their name. And a free weekend shopping trip to Miami. And a bigger office. And a nicer chair. For performing their jobs. Let's hear it for them. Hip! Hip!..
And when you go to work today you should demand the same.
You forgot the casino trip.
11:26 You deserve an elephant caressing you with his toes ,while the bird of paradise flies up your nose.
Where are jobs for Caymanians, lower prices on gas and halt in rising crime?
Tell us about those trends alden instead of blowing hot air as usual.
11:17.You must be, UDP.
No i am not UDP i am PDU, Progressives Don’t Understand , new political party in Cayman, would you like to become a member? Please consider.
16:07.Scramble the letters all you want,still the same old party.
Any Caymanian who wants a job can get a job. Petrol is not expensive, especially in aplace where there is no need to drive significant distances. The answer to crime is more gated communities as far as I am concerned.
Where are the Caymanians who are willing to do those jobs, or even just show up for work…?
PPM need to wake up and understand we tired of the political moaning. They not offering solutions to help Caymanians they just talking plenty and giving excuses.
11:07.If you are tired of political moaning ,then you should stop doing it.Afterall you are the one complaining because PPM is trying to get Government's accounts in order.
People do not trust the regressives or announcements from Premier Alden it's really that simple
10:59.Of course you believe that they trust your UDP.Not exactly.
SMH none of those groups can be trusted both caused this mess. The irony is lost on PPM trolls
Poor Aldin feeling sorry for himself again. People would maybe believe him If he and Marco had saved the celebratory press conference announcing 2 out of 41 accounts completed when there is full compliance and positive results.
Compliance with the PMFL is a legal obligation. Full compliance is proof that government and employees are doing what they are paid to do. Why does the ppm insist on celebrating government employees doing their jobs and earning their salaries? Particularly when unqualified opinions are still beingannounced and there is the small matter of CI$ 1 BILLION is unaccounted for from 2011-12 (YES 1 Billion)
Thankfully, the Auditor General Swarbrick's set the record straight and confirmed that the government jumped the gun by seeking accolades before the entire process was complete which is what the premier is doing again with his recent statement in the LA.
10:55.Perhaps your comment would be taken seriously if you knew what you were talking about. Unfortunately since you lament the fact that "unqualified opinions" are being announced,you are obviously clueless.FYI the definition of an unqualified opinion is :" An independent auditor's judgment that a company's financial records and statements are fairly and appropriately presented, and in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)."
BCounter obviously meant qualified opinions if you follow the post
It was a typo.
Unqualifed opinions are what we should expect.
Unfortunately too many "Qualified opinions" are still being produced which is very bad for the Caymans.
11:44.Beanie Man I guess that happens when you act in haste,which is ironic since you are criticizing Alden for acting in haste. Oh boy.
Newsflash Beanie – Unqualified opinions are a good thing!
Pretty sure you are not a real counter but rather just full of beans!
It was a typo. I meant "qualified opinions" are still being produced.
Qualified opinions are bad.
Unqualified opinions are what we should expect.