Hundreds of thousands of government dollars missing

Read storyA report of government spending from the 2006/2007 financial year says officials did not account for money as they should have, leaving doubts about how taxpayers' money was used.

The report, made by the auditor general, has listed several areas of concern, including:

• It is unclear how $909,000 in funds intended to fund the opening of the Bahamas Embassy in Cuba were actually spent
  
• Items were released without evidence that duty was paid and nearly 3,000 cargo lists show no dollar values
  
• In Abaco $300,149 – nearly a quarter of the island's total expenditures – was released without the administrator's signature
  
• Hundreds of thousands of dollars spent by the Ministry of Housing is unaccounted for. Kenneth Russell, current Housing Minister, said police are investigating.
  
•  Visa applications are missing signatures, occupation details and a photograph. Auditors also raised concerns that one person was able to sponsor visas for 16 people.
  

Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A1)

Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here