When meeting with Mr Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, and representatives of the Parliament from the Public Expenditure Commission during a working visit to Roseau, Dominica, State Auditor of Latvia Rolands Irklis confirmed the readiness to support the Office of the Director of Audit of the Commonwealth of Dominica (SAI Dominica) in improving its performance. Cooperation between the two SAIs takes place within the Global Integrity Initiative (GSAI) of the Development Initiative (IDI) established by the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).
Mr Skerits thanked the State Audit Office of Latvia and Latvia for the support provided to improve Dominica’s external auditing environment. At the same time, in the conversation with the Auditor General of Latvia, the Prime Minister pointed out the need to strengthen the public financial resources management system and the responsibility of officials in order to use the state budget funds more efficiently and effectively. Also, the Head of Government expressed great support for strengthening the independence of SAI Dominica.
In a discussion with members of the Public Expenditure Commission of Dominica, the Auditor General of Latvia stressed the role and importance of SAI in the parliamentary oversight system, and also shared his experience with the practice of the State Audit Office of Latvia when cooperating with the parliament and other stakeholders.
Within the framework of the visit, the Auditor General of Latvia also addressed the colleagues of SAI Dominica by providing an insight into strategic planning issues, principles of compliance audits, and cooperation with stakeholders.
It has already been reported that during the visit, the experts of the State Audit Office of Latvia shared their experience with the colleagues of SAI Dominica to develop a plan for improving the performance of the institution jointly.
International cooperation of the State Audit Office of the Republic of Latvia:
• Holds elected positions in the governing bodies of EUROSAI, a regional organisation of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), serves on the Contact Committee, of the Cooperation Platform between the SAIs of the EU Member States and the European Court of Auditors, and acts as an auditor of international organisations;
• Ensures participation and professional input in the INTOSAI and EUROSAI International Working Groups and the INTOSAI Financial Auditing Standards Subcommittee;
• Provides development and support to the SAIs of other countries and offers services in the international consulting market as a professional, highly qualified, and experienced consultant in the field of public sector audits.
About the State Audit Office of Latvia
The State Audit Office of the Republic of Latvia is an independent, collegial supreme audit institution. The purpose of its activity is to find out whether the actions with the financial means and property of a public entity are legal, correct, useful and in line with public interests, as well as to provide recommendations for the elimination of discovered irregularities. The State Audit Office conducts audits in accordance with International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions INTOSAI (ISSAI), whose recognition in Latvia is determined by the Auditor General.
100 years of AUDIT STRENGTH
On 16 August 2023, the State Audit Law will turn 100 years old. With the adoption of this Law, the State Audit Office from a formal de facto institution founded on 2 December 1918 became a de jure independent, collegial supreme audit institution of the Republic of Latvia. The State Audit Office is one of the independent state institutions enshrined in the Satversme (Constitution) of Latvia. The Constitution was signed by Roberts Ivanovs as the secretary of the Constitutional Assembly, who was then confirmed as the Auditor General. He worked as the first Auditor General for 12 years. His signature confirmed the text of our Constitution alongside that of Jānis Čakste.
Additional information
Ms Signe Znotiņa-Znota
Head of PR and Internal Communication Division
Ph. + 371 67017671 | M. + 371 26440185 | E-mail: signe.znotina-znota@lrvk.gov.lv