Accountants' resignations worrying

Frequent accountant resignations and a lack of professional support have delayed financial reporting submissions by the Sugar Industry Tribunal, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts heard yesterday.

During its hearing on the 2021-2022 Audit Report on Statutory Authorities, the Tribunal's industrial commissioner and registrar, Timothy Brown, revealed that the organisation had struggled to submit its financial accounts on time in the years after 2016 because of the resignations.

"We were going for one accountant after another. When they leave, the person coming in has to go through the system and learn it," he said, adding that they had left due to bette paid opportunities elsewhere or illness.

"Our accountants are paid about $20,000. People will come and go." Without adequate funding, securing professional support has been difficult.

"We needed professional assistance, but we didn't have the budget, which was costly. The Tribunal's office does not have the money."

Mr Brown vowed to resolve this issue and get his financial accounts in order.

Established by the Sugar Industry Act of 1984, the Sugar Industry Tribunal manages contractual relations and addresses disputes between farmers and the Fiji Sugar Corporation.

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