University providing unusual delays during audit

THE AUDIT  of the books of the University of Panama is  facing  road blocks, and Panama’s Comptroller, Federico Humbert, has described delays in  providing information requested by  the audit team as “unusual” and “bureaucratic,” substantially delaying progress.

The audit which began in March has been stalled by the inability of the school to provide requested information.

The audit was requested by suspended professor Miguel Antonio Bernal.

Once the review started, staff of the National Directorate of General Audit of the Comptroller (Dinag) had setbacks, particularly about the handling of funds by the University of Panama Foundation.

The Dinag sent several letters to the school requesting information related to the operations of the 51 farms owned by the UP. It also sought information about the handling of operations and transactions of the foundation, and contracts for special services and consultancies.

The foundation was created by Rector Gustavo García de Paredes in 1995, the first year he took office.

It also asked for records related to food supplied to schools from 2010 to 2014.

García de Paredes sent a letter to Humbert on April 7 saying all the information was being collected by the Office of the Administrative Vice Presidency, directed by Nicolás Jerome. On 1 April 13,  UP General Counsel Luis Alberto Palacios issued a memo ordering school officials to turn over the requested information, as per the rector’s instructions.

García de Paredes said that he is striving to give the correct information to the comptroller.

“The auditors are doing their work. They ask for what they want, there is no obstacle in that,” he said. “Here, in this country, everything generates suspicion. But all the information that they want is being given.”

University providing “unusual’ delays during audit
THE AUDIT of the books of the University of Panama is facing road blocks, and Panama’s Comptroller, Federico Humbert, has described delays in the providing information requested by the audit team as “unusual” and “bureaucratic” that have substantially delayed progress.
The audit which began in March has been stalled by the inability of the school to provide requested information.
The audit was requested by suspended professor Miguel Antonio Bernal.
Once the review started, staff of the National Directorate of General Audit of the Comptroller (Dinag) had setbacks, particularly about the handling of funds by the University of Panama Foundation.
The Dinag sent several letters to the school requesting information related to the operations of the 51 farms owned by the UP. It also sought information about the handling of operations and transactions of the foundation, and contracts for special services and consultancies.
The foundation was created by Rector Gustavo García de Paredes in 1995, the first year he took office.
It also asked for records related to food supplied to schools from 2010 to 2014.
García de Paredes sent a letter to Humbert on April 7 saying all the information was being collected by the Office of the Administrative Vice Presidency, directed by Nicolás Jerome. On 1 April 13, UP General Counsel Luis Alberto Palacios issued a memo ordering school officials to turn over the requested information, as per the rector’s instructions.
García de Paredes said that he is striving to give the correct information to the comptroller.
“The auditors are doing their work. They ask for what they want, there is no obstacle in that,” he said. “Here, in this country, everything generates suspicion. But all the information that they want is being given.”