Prepare for fireworks in PCJ debate

FIERY DEBATE on the controversial findings of the forensic audit into operations at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) and the Petroleum Company of Jamaica is expected to begin today during a committee meeting in Gordon House.

The audit examined the fiscal period April 1, 2006-March 31, 2007, when Phillip Paulwell presided as minister of industry and technology with responsibility for energy.

Government members on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) are itching to delve into the matter, which stirred an intense debate earlier this year.

Paulwell, an opposition member of parliament, sits on the PAC.

The Dr Omar Davies-chaired PAC will turn the spotlight on incriminating revelations arising from the forensic audit which has already resulted in the sacking of former group Managing Director Dr Ruth Potopsingh.

Irregularities identified

Auditors had combed through the PCJ's documents and found irregularities in the financial operations of the agency, with millions of dollars disbursed under questionable circumstances.

While the audit showed no evidence of wrongdoing by Potopsingh, it revealed a lax system which allowed money to be paid out without following basic accounting or government guidelines.

The former PCJ executive conceded in a Gleaner interview earlier this year that some of the findings of the audit report were irregular. However, she said the audit itself was flawed.

"The way the audit is presented, it does not give the details of these issues, and there are lots of errors, mischaracterisation and partial statements," Potopsingh had said.

She told The Gleaner that she had pointed out the shortcomings in the audit report to the board of the PCJ and had submitted her response to the audit queries to the prime minister, the solicitor general and the auditor general.