The United Democratic Party is calling for greater transparency in the Auditor General’s investigation into the Mira Millions and public procurement issues. In a letter dated June twenty-fourth, twenty-twenty-six, Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton wrote to Prime Minister John Briceno raising concerns about the scope, independence, and effectiveness of the probe. The Opposition is urging the government to make public the formal terms of reference, directives, and instructions issued to the Auditor General. According to the letter, public confidence in the process depends not only on the announcement of an investigation, but on how it is carried out. The UDP also emphasized that the Office of the Auditor General must remain independent and free from executive influence. Among the key concerns is whether Minister Oscar Mira exercised any influence over the awarding of contracts to businesses linked to his family. The Opposition also requests a comprehensive review of procurement processes, including contract awards, approvals, and compliance with financial regulations. It is further seeking clarity on potential conflicts of interest and whether any laws or ethical standards were breached. Additionally, the letter raises questions about the legal authority used to initiate the appointment of a new RECONDEV Board. The Opposition maintains that a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation is critical to maintaining public trust and ensuring accountability. Notably, today Cabinet announced that it discussed and examined the existing Government Procurement Rules and considered that the current process of comprehensively reviewing and updating these Procurement must be fast-tracked. Cabinet says it has directed that the new draft Procurement Rules be submitted for its consideration within the next three months.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
