Amigoe: Audit Office investigates business trips of Parliamentarians

Isn’t it funny how when the tax dollars get tight; Aruba officials suddenly find out that there may be money disbursement issues that are at best questionable? First it was the over-time issue to police. Now it appears that the General Audit Office in Aruba is looking into business expenses of Parliamentarians trips. Government officials padding expense trip and taking advantage of the tax payers … say it isn’t so.

“Aruba is coping with a big financial deficit and the parliamentarians continue to submit expense accounts and cash in.” The investigation is in line with a motion of the RED that was passed last week. RED is of the opinion that it is about time to cross out all the unnecessary privileges of parliamentarians.

One thing is for certain, this just did not occur overnight. These types of situations are OK to be over-looked when the tourism was good and tax revenues were coming in hand over fist; however, now that Aruba finds itself with a 15% decrease it is just amazing the waste they are suddenly discovering. All at the Aruban citizens expense.

Amigoe, July 14, 2006: Audit Office investigates business trips

ARUBA – The General Audit Office in Aruba is investigating the business trips of parliamentarians. Late June, chairman of Parliament Mervin Wyatt-Ras (MEP) received a letter from the chairman of the Audit Office with the request to cooperate with this investigation. The Audit Office wants to see all the methods used for calculating the amount of the allowance. Chairman Hubert Toppenberg also requested inspection of all the requests that were made in this field, in reports and payments. With ‘methods’, the Audit Office means all the regulations, description of procedures, guidelines, and instructions used to calculate the amount of the daily allowances, representation- and equipment costs. RED is pleased with this investigation. Party-leader Rudy Lampe indicated during a press conference that the allowances that the parliamentarians receive are extravagant.“Aruba is coping with a big financial deficit and the parliamentarians continue to submit expense accounts and cash in.” The investigation is in line with a motion of the RED that was passed last week. RED is of the opinion that it is about time to cross out all the unnecessary privileges of parliamentarians.