Auditor General’s HOPE investigation ‘bigger’ than anticipated

uditor General Leigh Trotman has revealed that his investigation into the state-owned Home Ownership Providing Energy (HOPE) housing project is “bigger than [he] thought” and will take longer than expected to complete. The probe, one of two investigations into the controversial project, is now targeted for completion by the end of the year.

Trotman told Barbados TODAY: “It’s bigger than I thought. So, it will probably take a little longer. Hopefully soon though.” When pressed on whether the investigation would conclude before year-end, he responded, “Definitely before the end of the year. We will see if we can finish before the end of the year. That is my target.”

The Auditor General is the constitutionally appointed auditor of all government ministries, departments, funds and government-controlled entities, policing for breaches of the Financial Administration and Audit Act which regulates the receipt, control and issue of public funds. He reports annually to the House of Assembly, and his reports highlight issues requiring the attention of Parliament.

The HOPE project, unveiled in 2021 with the ambitious goal of constructing 10 000 houses over five years, has come under scrutiny following admissions by Prime Minister Mia Mottley of “teething problems” and embarrassing discoveries by the administration.

A second inquiry, announced by Mottley during her Budget debate wrap-up in March, is set to be chaired by attorney Alrick Scott. This “departmental investigation” will commence after the Auditor General’s probe is completed.

At a press conference last Friday, Mottley explained the distinction between the two investigations: “I am aware the Auditor General started the investigation, and we felt that we would give him space to get out because it’s the same files. But his investigation would be different from the departmental investigation that we want at HOPE.”

The prime minister further elaborated that Scott’s inquiry would “look not just at anything that went wrong, but will also be able to recommend systems – if they have not already been put in place – that need to be put in place to ensure value for money and greater efficiency as we go forward”.

Addressing the House of Assembly on March 20, Mottley acknowledged the unprecedented scale of the HOPE project for the government.

“This is the first time the Government of Barbados is seeking to do something at this level of industrial scale,” Mottley said. “Has it had teething problems? Yes, it has. And have we found out things that I don’t like? Yes, we have. And have we taken action with respect to some of them? Yes, we have.”

The prime minister also refuted suggestions by Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne regarding alleged improprieties in the allocation of $60 million to HOPE. Mottley clarified that the funds came from the Housing Credit Fund. “It was intended always to be a revolving fund starting at $10 million. It still is…and, therefore, the monies that have been put into HOPE and in some instances National Housing, will be repaid because it is not a grant, it is a loan,” she told the House. (EJ)