The Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General has issued the audit report of collection activities at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. We found that supervisory personnel were not regularly reviewing the collection process; there were weaknesses in internal controls; and, collection methods and processes varied among sites and collectors.  To view the report, click here.

The Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General has issued the audit report of transactions of the Governor’s Special Events Fund. We found that the checking account was not officially established by the Department of Finance and was used: (I) for transactions other than its purpose of financing special events; (ii) to pay for professional services to an individual without a contract; and, (iii)to inappropriately pay Government employees outside of the Government payroll system.  To view the report, click here.

The Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General has issued the audit report of the funding for the abandoned vehicle program on St. Thomas. The audit found that internal controls were not implemented to ensure that established Government rules and regulations were followed and the financial integrity of the program followed. As a result, a fraud scheme was perpetrated costing the Government $1,903,684. To view the report, click here.

The Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General released its Fiscal Year 2010 Audit Plan. Among the various audits planned for 2010, the Inspector General’s Office hopes to complete three projects still in progress during Fiscal Year 2009, to include: Abandoned Vehicle Program, Education Initiative Fund, and Administrative Functions of the V. I. Lottery. In addition four other projects should be started during the 2009 Fiscal Year to include: Specific Operations of the Superior Court, V. I. Government Collectors, Administrative Functions of the Virgin Islands Legislature, and Activities of the V. I. Economic Development Authority. To view the 2010 Audit Plan, click here.

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.

The Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General has issued the audit report of checking accounts maintained by the Department of Tourism. The audit disclosed that Tourism did not implement or establish policies and procedures for the disbursement and accounting of petty cash/imprest fund accounts in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. As a result: (i) Tourism established 14 petty cash checking accounts without the Department of Finance’s knowledge and authorization; (ii) Tourism expended in excess of $4 million dollars without adequate documentation or accounting for the funds; (iii) goods and services were procured in violation of the procurement laws; and, (iv) poor and inadequate internal controls over the funds expended through these unauthorized petty cash/imprest fund accounts placed the assets at high risk for fraud, waste and abuse. To view the report, click here.

The Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General released its Fiscal Year 2009 Audit Plan. Among the various audits planned for 2009, the Inspector General’s Office hopes to complete five projects started in Fiscal Year 2008 (Tourism Checking Accounts, Abandoned Vehicle Program, Education Initiative Fund, Bureau of Economic Research Grants, and Administrative Functions of the V. I. Lottery). In addition four other projects should be started during the 2009 Fiscal Year to include: Specific Operations of the Superior Court, Activities of the V. I. Economic Development Authority, V. I. Government Collectors, and Administrative Functions of the Department of Licensing. To view the 2009 Audit Plan, click here.