The Government’s emergency spending in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic is under the microscope of the bipartisan Public Accounts Committee.

Cole Simons, the Leader of the Opposition and chairman of the PAC, said the group continued to examine healthcare procurement and pandemic payments.

Questions came to the fore in two point of interest reports by Heather Thomas, the Auditor-General.

A report on the Government of Bermuda’s Response to Covid-19 in February 21 was followed that October by a report on the administration of unemployment benefits.

The PAC will also look into “value-for-money analysis of outside vendor contracts to be sought from relevant senior public officers”, Mr Simons said, to ensure they were in line with procurement and financial management rules.

The committee will compile a total of Covid-19 expenses across the Government and examine their impact on the island’s national debt.

Mr Simons added that the PAC has reviewed the financial health of public pension funds — along with delays by publicly-funded entities in getting timely accounts ready for review by the Office of the Auditor-General, and the efficiency of government IT.

The PAC expects to submit its findings and suggestions this year on the management of the Government’s accounts receivables.

The group has looked into recovery and debt collection processes as well as the extent of what Mr Simons said could be seen as “doubtful accounts”.