By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION Minister Jeffrey Lloyd yesterday confirmed that an extensive audit is underway at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology as the government looks to determine if the more than $300m allocated to the ministry is being used in a “proactive and useful” manner.

Mr Lloyd, however, revealed that the audit was initially ordered by his predecessor, former Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald before being voted out of office earlier this month.

The revelation comes as the new Minnis administration pushes forward with plans to conduct wide-ranging audits of several government offices and entities in the coming months.

Mr Lloyd, the member of Parliament-elect for South Beach, also denied claims that the new government has undertaken a political “witch hunt”.

Mr Lloyd said his office, like many others throughout government, has to be held to account for the finances granted to them by the taxpayers.

“Of course it is not a witch hunt. The Bahamian people have put us here so that they can expect from us an effective and efficient, and proficient management of the affairs of this country,” Mr Lloyd stated.

“It is our responsibility. It is a fundamental responsibility of any new administration to understand what is going on and that is what we are doing.

“I mean it is no surprise to anybody that, in some instances, the management has not been as efficient and as proficient as it ought to be.

“We want to know why and where, and so those who are claiming it to be a ‘witch hunt,’ may have something to hide (or) may have something to fear and if they do, to God be the glory.

“But that exercise is going to be done and it is going to be done with clarity and we are not going to be deterred by any naysayers who obviously want some other objective to be realised.”

Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis last week warned that the new government should avoid succumbing to widespread expectations of “witch hunts” as he raised concerns over an excessive display of force by police at the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC).

The corporation became one of several government-managed entities spotlighted by the Minnis administration as it announced that it would conduct forensic audits into Urban Renewal, Bank of The Bahamas (BOB) and the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI).

The government had also said that all Cabinet ministers will conduct audits within their respective ministries.

Mr Lloyd on Monday became the first minister to confirm that an audit was ongoing in their respective ministries.

Mr Lloyd told reporters that move was “very crucial” as his office looks to ensure the public that it is “getting value” for money.

He said: “We are looking, obviously, at the contractual relationship that the ministry and the department has with vendors or with consultants or with persons who are providing services for the ministry.”

Mr Lloyd added: “We want to see and evaluate whether those contracts have been entered into with the view of providing the best opportunities and services and products that the ministry needs and that they can use immediately.

“There are contracts that are considered for building of schools or upgrade or renovations for schools, you want to be sure that those dollars that are being spent are being spent wisely and intelligently and are getting for the Bahamian people the value that they deserve.”

Mr Lloyd could not say when the audit would be finished, but he indicated that once it is done, the findings will be made public.

Dr Minnis on Sunday denied that his administration is conducting a “witch hunt” in regards to its probes.

He was speaking primarily to BAIC.

Dr Minnis went on to brand his government as “transparent” and “honest” and said it would treat all people equally.