It’s not all about the money

SINT MAARTEN (COMMENTARY – By the General Audit Chamber) - The quality of our day is directly linked to the decision we make, not just on the day of but the day prior. So goes for the quality of life on our island. It’s a reflection of past and present decisions. This is important to understand as it may often be believed that only money is required to fix our lives or improve the island.

Bad roads, strained health infrastructure, troubled youths? Add more funds to the budget! While any extra amount of money can be of assistance, looking at the process of decision making, the environment where decisions are taken and the capabilities or limitations of the decision maker can lead to solutions that improve the quality of life for all. Our objective should be to improve our decision making; from ideation to implementation.

For example, you’ve probably heard discussions in public about gambling on St. Maarten. While this may appear as a non-taxpayer issue, it boils down to what is the government’s responsibility to protect the public and ensure benefit for all. There are questions we can ask such as, “What is government doing to promote responsible gambling?”, “what programs, if any, are being funded by the revenue collected?”, “is government enforcing laws to ensure compliance?” and “who is held to account for reforms?”

There are more questions one can ask and answer. The intent, however, is to check whether the relevant public service officials are fulfilling their mandate to the best of their ability. Our audits play a role in providing perspectives on how government operations can improve, and strong reminders of the need for compliance and efficiency.

In such cases, money alone won’t wipe away the woes. It will include new processes, stronger oversight, engagement with parties involved, and executing recommendations by professionals and stakeholders.

Where the General Audit Chamber is concerned, it’s expected that we will review how the government used taxpayer funds. Checking that they are used legally and efficiently.

When we audit, we also consider the benefit of the taxpayer and we verify whether the value for your money is rendered. Our reports are tools for Government, Parliament and the general public that provide insight in opportunities for improvement to the quality of life on St. Maarten.

The General Audit Chamber