Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called on Antigua and Barbuda’s statutory corporations to bring their financial reporting up to date, following revelations that only one of 28 entities has submitted audited statements on time.
Speaking in Parliament, Browne acknowledged the delays and said the Ministry of Finance is pressing the agencies to comply with their reporting obligations.
“The Ministry of Finance in Antigua and Barbuda continues to push these statutory organizations to ensure that their audited statements are prepared in a timely manner,” he said.
The issue was raised by opposition MPs, who cited a report from the Director of Audit highlighting widespread non-compliance among government entities. They questioned the government’s commitment to financial transparency, arguing that statutory bodies are failing to meet their legal obligations.
Opposition MP Richard Lewis pressed the Prime Minister on why so many entities had fallen behind, stating that a lack of financial oversight could lead to mismanagement or inefficiencies.
“When will this government ensure that all statutory corporations comply with the law and provide audited statements to Parliament?” Lewis asked.
Browne maintained that while the government is working to address the issue, oversight of statutory bodies also falls under the Public Accounts Committee, which is chaired by the opposition.
Statutory corporations play a key role in managing public funds across various sectors, including transport, utilities, and social services. Governance advocates have urged the government to implement stricter enforcement measures, such as penalties for non-compliance, to ensure accountability.
While Browne reassured Parliament that efforts are being made to clear the backlog, it remains unclear how soon statutory corporations will submit their overdue reports or whether new measures will be introduced to prevent further delays.
