Members of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday chided the Broadcasting Commission for failing to recover more than $200,000 in taxes on honorarium from its commissioners.

The Social Development Commission (SDC) was also criticised for not being able to recover overpayments to five employees.

The Broadcasting Commission had failed to collect $247,500 in taxes from its commissioners, during fiscal year 2004/2005.

Executive director of the commission, Cordel Green, told members of the PAC that, to date, the commission has recovered 50 per cent of the taxes.

Recovering the balance

He said the commissioners, three of whom are no longer with the entity, would pay the balance by the end of the current fiscal year.

Green explained that the taxes on honorarium were not collected because of an administrative lapse.

He assured the committee that this would not recur.

According to Green, "The members who are no longer on the commission take the matter seriously. We have been in touch with all those members and we have a commitment that they will ensure the refund of all the appropriate sums."

Meanwhile, during fiscal year 2004/2005, the SDC overpaid five employees $27,000.

Executive director of the SDC, Robert Bryan, said the organisation has recovered $16,957. He said for the amounts not collected, the SDC has referred the matter to the attorney general's department for action.