CABINET NOTES: The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda considered a submission by the Honourable Sir Molwyn Joseph, Minister responsible for the Public Service concerning the need to enhance financial management, accountability, and professional standards within the Accounts Departments across government ministries.
Following deliberations, the Cabinet approved measures to establish qualified accountants within Accounts Departments, across all Ministries, Departments, and Statutory Bodies of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
The Cabinet’s decision mandates that:
1. All Accounts Departments must be staffed by qualified and experienced accounting professionals, holding at minimum a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline, with professional certification such as ACCA, CPA, or ICAN being an added advantage.
2. Existing staff who do not meet these qualification standards are to be transferred or redeployed to other departments or roles where their skills may be more effectively utilized.
3. The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Department of the Public Service, will oversee the implementation of this directive to ensure uniform compliance throughout the public sector.
This initiative is part of the Government’s ongoing effort to:
• Ensure financial credibility and accountability across the public service;
• Strengthen internal controls and ensure compliance with financial regulations;
• Improve the accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting; and
• Enhance efficiency, transparency, and professional standards within government operations.
The Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of fiscal management and transparency in the administration of public resources, ensuring that every ministry and agency operates in accordance with sound accounting principles and modern financial governance practice.
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I was a night auditor and that work was not rocket science..
So the people without papers known as accounts clerks will be placed in other departments I guess..All government departments will have adds for qualified accountants….
I wonder when the day will come when our Prime Minister actually DOES SOMETHING to improve transparency and accountability within his administration. He can start by appointing a committee of qualified professionals to investigate and report on their findings of the CARGATE scandal.
We need to see action rather than listen to empty words. Mr. Top Dog, please do something worthwhile for once, and stop protecting crooks, by focusing on so called restitution as opposed to making a determination of what transpired, and the steps that are required to bring the culprits to justice, recover the funds of which the government was defrauded, and put proper systems in place to prevent a recurrence.
Finally they see the wisdom and not continue to put square pegs in round holes. Government and many small businesses always use as an excuse that they do not have the money to hire a qualified accountant. And then they end up with a big mess and have to hire the very same expensive accountant to clean up the mess. I call it being Penny Wise and Pound Foolish. But I still do not fully agree that a person with a Bachelor degree in Accounts is really qualified. It takes someone with a professional qualification such as a CPA, CGA, ACCA, CM to effectively run an accounts department and give guidance to the staff he or see supervises. Someone with a Bachelor degree has just learned the basics and can become the assistant to the Accountant. With further studies in these professional qualification these persons can become qualified. Government may have to revised their pay scales in order to attract qualified accountants to work in the Public Sector.
The former comptroller of customs was a highly qualified man with plenty letters behind his name and he “resigned” for fraud. What is needed is people with integrity and that cannot be taught in universities. 99 % of the ills in the world are committed by quality people. Politicians are some of the tiefest people in the world …look at the IHI scandal, the Individuals involved are highly qualified and stole over a $100 million. JUST GIVE ME F….ING BREAK
I hope the pay meets the qualification.
Wow! It seems like these wutless ABLP Ministers are taking note at last in placing the correct qualified personnel in the Ministerial positions.
Something I mentioned only just weeks ago.
Putting “square pegs into round holes” has never worked.
I would have made a great politician…
… can’t turn back the clock now though.