In a recent development that has raised significant concerns about governance and accountability, the audited financial statements of Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) for the year 2016 were tabled in the House of Representatives—nine years after their due date. This delay, highlighted in a letter to the editor by Motilal Ramsingh, underscores a broader issue of systemic negligence within public sector institutions.
The financial documents were referred to the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee, chaired by Senator Vishnu Dhanpaul, with MP Colm Imbert serving as vice-chair. Notably, both individuals have previously held the position of Minister of Finance and are well-versed in financial stewardship. Dhanpaul, who also served as a permanent secretary and a member of CAL’s board, is no stranger to the intricacies of corporate governance.
The nearly decade-long delay in presenting these accounts is not an isolated incident but rather indicative of a pervasive culture of weak accountability and a blatant disregard for statutory reporting obligations. Such lapses erode public confidence, impede effective parliamentary oversight, and undermine the credibility of financial governance across the public sector.
The situation is further exacerbated by the recent change in CAL’s board and the departure of key executives, which has laid bare the farcical nature of accountability within the organization. This episode serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic reforms to restore public trust in institutions.
As Ramsingh aptly notes, this incident should not be met with wry amusement among those once responsible for oversight but should instead prompt serious reflection and corrective action. The restoration of public trust in governance mechanisms is imperative to ensure transparency and accountability in the future.