It would be unrealistic to expect an organisation the size of a public administration to work without any governance hitches. However, there ought to be a limit to the level of shortcomings allowed by the country or, more specifically, by the party in government.

A financial or an administrative scandal during the life of an Administration may lead to resignations. But, strangely enough, the annual collection of shortcomings made known by the Auditor General in his report does not often get the national attention it deserves.

This time round, the Auditor’s report has managed to stir some interest because of shocking examples of bad practice in some quarters. Yet, in truth, no Administration has ever managed to escape criticism for lack of control in the spending of taxpayers’ money.

So, while the Labour Party may, quite justifiably, turn its guns on the Nationalist Administration for some of the shortcomings listed by the Auditor General, it, too, had been subjected to severe criticism by the Auditor in its time.

It is the taxpayers that ought to feel mostly aggrieved because it is their money that is squandered when there is lack of good organisation, accountability and good governance.

Year after year, the Auditor General complains of general weaknesses that are not seen to during the year. The Auditor says that “a number of weaknesses and concerns reported in previous years still prevail”. Should there not be people in ministries charged with ensuring that such weaknesses are corrected? And if there are, why are they not checked when they default in their duties?

Take, for example, the issue over arrears of payments. The amount owed is so huge that it is generally admitted that a good portion of it is unlikely ever to get collected. But in the Budget for 2011, the Finance Minister had made it a point for the Administration to get to grips with the situation and instructed every government department to draw up a plan to work towards a reduction of 10 per cent in arrears.

The measure was only one of seven included in a plan to reduce public spending. According to the Auditor’s report, there has been a reduction in arrears, of about six per cent as at the end of 2011, but the 10 per cent target has not been met yet.

So, why has this been allowed to happen? Was there enough supervision to ensure that steps were taken in time to collect the arrears due to the Government? Unless people are held accountable, there is absolutely no possibility that the level of arrears is reduced drastically. The Auditor considers as a “major concern” the inadequacy of the overall internal controls. It is no wonder that the situation at the pay office of the general hospital and at the Gozo hospital appears to have gone out of control. Salary payments to consultants were not substantiated with records of attendance and there were also significant overpayments. Equally disturbing is the lack of transparency and non-compliance with procurement regulations.

The cherry on the cake would seem to be the dreadful financial situation that local councils are in. The segment dealing with them in the Auditor’s report is littered with shortcomings. No fewer than 23 councils and two regional committees were running a deficit and others are on the verge of facing liquidity problems if they do not cut their spending.

It would seem that weaknesses and shortcomings are multiplying instead of being reduced.

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