The laundry list

Saturday mornings in St. Maarten can often start the same way. You sleep in, check online for traffic status, and possible events. Then comes the chores, especially shopping for the upcoming week. You map out the stores with specials and begin writing down a list of things to buy and things to do.

That list keeps you on track and helps you navigate possible inconveniences. Without it, you’re slumped if something was forgotten. No one wants to go back out in traffic.

Now think about the leaders running our government. Ministers and Members of Parliament manage budgets, programs, and services that affect every person on this island. What keeps them on track? In part, this is the work of the General Audit Chamber. As an independent body, we review how public money is spent and how government programs perform.

For example, a recent performance audit was conducted on the building permit process at VROMI. That report laid out clearly what was broken: outdated laws, gaps in procedure, and real risks of fraud. For any minister stepping into that portfolio, the audit is the equivalent of checking whether you have gas before you leave the driveway. It tells you what needs fixing before the problem gets worse.

The audit into Ex Officio Tax Assessments is another example. That report led to constant questions about whether tax decisions were being made fairly and consistently. Though it was published a few years ago, it serves as the reminder, like the laundry list tucked in your pocket: follow up on this.

What doesn’t get accomplished in that day, doesn’t vanish. It simply compounds onto the list of items for the following week. Just like a Saturday list keeps you from coming home empty handed, audit reports keep government focused on what it promised to deliver.

The Audit Chamber does not tell politicians how to lead. We simply show what has been done, what has not, and what still needs attention.

In a busy world, it is easy to skip the checklist especially when emergencies pop up. But whether you are running errands or running a country, staying accountable starts with knowing what you cannot afford to forget.

The General Audit Chamber