The Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General has issued the audit report on selected transactions of the Bureau of Economic Research. The audit disclosed that Economic Research: (i) had unchecked access to over $2.7 million in its checking accounts, in which local and Federal funds were commingled; (ii) inappropriately paid its employees for work performed after regular hours; (iii) failed to engage in competitive negotiations when procuring contractual services of certain vendors and failed to enter into contracts for vendor services valued at more than $5,000 as required by the Virgin Islands Code; (iv) entered into transactions that created a conflict of interest for the Director of Economic Research; and, (v) extended unauthorized advances to employees and a loan to a vendor. To view the report, click here.