Questions surrounding delayed financial reporting and weak internal controls took centre stage during the Public Accounts Committee hearing on the 2021–2022 audit of the Sugar Industry Tribunal (SIT).
Committee member Alvick Maharaj raised concerns about the tribunal’s ongoing failure to submit financial statements within the legal time frame of 90 days after the close of the financial year, as required under Fiji’s financial management laws.
Mr Maharaj questioned tribunal registrar Timothy Brown on the repeated delays, suggesting the issues pointed to broader problems in compliance and training.
“So, while staff have been with the organisation for over a year, they should have completed the required financial training and closed the accounts by year-end,” Mr Maharaj said.
“So, why weren’t the statements submitted within the time frame set by financial management regulations?”
In response, Mr Brown cited staffing shortages and budgetary constraints as key contributors to the delays.
“It’s not that we didn’t try,” he said.
“We needed professional assistance, but we simply didn’t have the budget.
“Hiring external professionals is costly, and the tribunal’s office does not have the funding.
“Our accountants are only paid $20,000 a year, so we experience high turnover.”
Mr Brown said a newly-engaged chartered accountant had begun addressing issues flagged in the audit, including problems linked to the tribunal’s gain quality payment system.
“We now have a chartered accountant working with us who is helping to go through the outstanding issues in the reports,” he said.
“We assure the committee that we are committed to getting everything up to date this year.”
