Department of the Prime Ministers Office and Cabinet.com
By George Herming

The Minister of Finance and Treasury Gordon Darcy Lilo today announced a number of policies aimed at strengthening financial management by government ministries this year.
The policies were contained in a finance circular issued to all government accounting officers which reminded them of their roles and responsibilities under the Public Finance and Audit Act and the Financial Instructions.
He warned accounting officers to stick to the rules of public financial management.
“Ignorance of the content of Financial Instructions shall not be accepted as an excuse where a public officer causes any loss whatsoever to government or creates any error or inaccuracy in any record of any type,” Mr Lilo warned.
Mr Lilo Permanent Secretaries who are accounting officers for their ministries have primary responsibility for expenditure control and proper financial management of public funds under their control.
“The permanent secretaries must ensure that public funds are spent effectively to achieve the outcomes and service deliveries expected and desired by the government,” he said.
He said permanent secretaries also have the duty to plan and manage their expenditures carefully over the financial.
The Minister said his Ministry this year has not made any reserves but made full allocation of funds to respective ministries to enable them to plan and carry out the government’s agenda.
“Careful planning is essential, particularly in relation to the management of development projects,” he said.
Under new financial arrangements which will take effect on April 1, Ministries will be required to allow for a period of 14 days for the treasury division upon receipt of correctly completed paperwork to process payment vouchers or raise Local Purchase Orders.
Mr Lilo said expenditures on development projects must get approval from the Prime Minister and Finance Minister where Ministries require the Treasury Division to process documents in less than fourteen days.
“Ministries that regularly seek approval for processing of urgent payments for development projects will be taken as an indication that the permanent secretary of that Ministry is not taking proper care to plan their expenditure,” Mr Lilo said.