Auditor General Terrance Bastian represented The Bahamas at the XXII Commonwealth Auditors General Conference held in Malta from March 24 to 27, 2014.
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NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas was amongst other
countries that met in Malta to devise ways of becoming more independent, at the
XXII Commonwealth Auditors General Conference held March 24 to 27, 2014.
Auditor General Terrance Bastian represented The
Bahamas; he was accompanied by Craig Bethel, Senior Accountant and Audit
Officer III.
The triennial event looks at ways to improve the
independence of the auditors general and improving the relationship with the
Public Accounts Committee of their respective countries.
The theme for
the conference was: “Securing Independence of Supreme Audit Institutions to
Improve the Effectiveness of Reporting and Communication of Audit Findings”.
About 90 delegates from 38 Commonwealth countries
attended the event, which coincided with the 200th year since the establishing
of the State Audit Institution in Malta in 1814.
Mr. Bastian expressed The Bahamas’ position on the Independence
of the Office of the Auditor General and the relationship with the Public
Accounts Committee, as progressing favourably.
The conference focused on:
The Independence of the SAIs;
The Relationship between the Auditor General and the
PAC (Public Accounts Committee);
The financial autonomy of the SAIs;
Professional relationship with the media; and,
The importance of Civil Society in the audit
process.
Presenters looked at new strategies to strengthen
the independence in identifying audit subject areas, the state of audit
independence in the face of national and international challenges, and
opportunities and constraints.
Presenters also highlighted techniques, which they
use to ensure the work they do is effective, topical, discussed and acted upon
by the relevant partners or audiences, and the challenges different audit
offices face and how they might be overcome.