New audit exposes unreported grant payments

A recent audit found that $214,500 in 13 extra grants were distributed between May and December 2021 as part of the Farmers and Fisherfolk COVID-19 Stimulus Programme.

These previously undisclosed payments bring up new concerns about the transparency of how grants are distributed. The controversial Farmers and Fisherfolk Stimulus Programme was designed to support local agriculture and fisheries as part of the government’s efforts to boost food production during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the recent audit, completed as part of the Commission of Inquiry’s (COI) recommendations, shed light on unreported payments and inconsistencies in the programme’s administration. The audit findings showed that undisclosed funds were provided to people not included in the 2021 audit, which only included payments amounting to $5.14 million. The programme has distributed some $5.39 million based on the latest audit numbers.

The audit not only pointed out undisclosed grants but also brought attention to the problems with the differing application procedures utilised by the Premier’s Office and the Ministry of Agriculture. Both departments conducted individual procedures, causing confusion and potentially excluding valid farmers and fishermen from getting assistance. “More than two-thirds (68%) of the initial respondents did not submit the second application required to qualify for the grant,” the audit revealed. It also highlighted how certain people might have been excluded because of poor coordination between the two departments.