An Audit Reveals Millions In Losses In Havana Businesses

An Audit Reveals Millions In Losses In Havana Businesses / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 1 February 2017 — The latest audit carried out by
Cuba's Office to the Comptroller revealed losses of more than 90 million
Cuban and more than 51 million Cuban convertible pesos in public
enterprises and non-agricultural cooperatives in Havana, a situation
that contributes to the failure to meet economic plans in the state
sector, according to Miriam Marbán González, the chief comptroller for
the capital.

The results of the Eleventh National Assessment of internal control,
which were presented Tuesday at a press conference at the Ministry of
Energy and Mines, show a disturbing picture for the Cuban economy
because of poor management efficiency and lack of integrity in planning.

The main objective of the analysis, carried out between 31 October and 9
December 2016, was the decentralization of administrative
decision-making, the operation of non-agricultural cooperatives and the
application of systems of payment for results.

In Havana, 67 inspections were carried out in which 301 auditors had to
confront "the lack of reliability of the primary documentation or the
lack thereof."

Non-agricultural cooperatives also revealed worrying results for this
form of business management that has been expanding since its adoption
in 2012. The inspection detected "ineffectiveness in information
mechanisms, the existence of some individualistic behaviors, lack of
foresight and surveillance and little cooperative culture." The island
currently has a total of 397 of these companies, mainly linked to food,
personal and technical services.

In total, the Comptroller's Office has examined 346 economic entities
throughout the country, with the exception of Guantánamo Province, which
was excluded because of economic damages caused by Hurricane Matthew.

The results of the assessments in the provinces of Cienfuegos, Matanzas,
Pinar del Río, Villa Clara and Holguín have also been alarming. In this
last province, the Comptroller General of the Republic, Gladys María
Bejerano, was blunt: "If there is no organization, discipline and
control, it is impossible to achieve the prosperous and sustainable
development that we have set ourselves."

The state, which seeks to stop, with these controls, the administrative
disorder that prevails in the business sector of the island, has been
attacked especially against idle inventories, criminal acts and corruption.

The national report could be presented mid-year at the next session of
the National Assembly.

Source: An Audit Reveals Millions In Losses In Havana Businesses /
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