Two Certified Public Accountants have vowed to take legal action against the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana (ICAG) over the recent suspension of their license and membership.

The two, George Vaughn of Vaughn Business Solutions, and Andre Davis of AMD Financial Services are contesting their suspension.

Vaughn is challenging the suspension of his ICAG Membership, while Davis is challenging the suspension of his certificate to practice.

In an interview with News Source today, Mr. Vaughn said he learnt of his membership with the accounting body being suspended through a notice in the newspapers. He said there was no prior warning or any issue with his membership.

The suspension of his ICAG membership means that he could no longer issue statutory audit opinions under Section 170 of the Companies Act. 

Vaughn said given the serious implications of the actions taken by the Institute of Chartered Accountants, he will be moving to the Courts.

“I will be pursuing legal actions because the report in the paper is damaging to me. They didn’t even have due process, so there is no where I can do anything with them because they didn’t send me a letter or anything, so that I can respond to. So, the only way I can clear this matter up is through the courts,” Vaughn explained. 

Vaughn was certified by the Guam Board of Accountancy as a Public Accountant, and was also issued an individual license to practice. He said though he became a member of ICAG in November of 2011, more than 13 years later, he has not been able to acquire a license. 

“I would have tried three times to get a license, took them to Court, the case run for about 10 years. The last time I applied for a license, the secretary told me that my license went out to print, low and behold, just before I went to pick it up, they came with a letter, stating, I am under investigation. In July, I would have applied back again, after serving two years to renew my international license with Guam, I saw this in the newspaper,” he explained. 

Vaughn said he feels targeted, adding that the actions of the ICAG are unjustified and must be challenged. 

Meanwhile, Davis, whose license was suspended, said while he was written to by the ICAG, he remains baffled as to the investigation being conducted. 

He explained that ICAG had asked for him to submit a client’s file within 48 hours. However, he objected on the grounds that due process was not followed.

“I basically refused to do so because I could not find in the laws, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana Laws, nor in the by-laws of the institute any clause or any reason such a request should be made for immediate submission of a client’s confidential flies and information,” he said. 

Davis said he was never charged to warrant an investigation, nor did the institute indicate that it was conducting a review of his auditing services. 

“There are three conditions for such submission, a subpoena from court, an audit review or an investigation. I enquired regarding the latter two, whether or not a charge was brought against me, which would trigger an investigation. So, for there to be an investigation, according to their laws, the laws of the institute, a charge has to be brought against you. Once the charge is brought against you, you are given time to respond to that charge, 14 days to respond, to be interviewed and to be questioned by them, none of which were activated,” David said. 

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana had reportedly inquired about his international license, but Davis made it clear that while his license to practice issued by Guam was not renewed, his GUAM certificate stands.

He said his membership and license were renewed by ICAG without there being a problem.

The ICAG membership of Azzar Haniff of Eclisar Financial and Professional Services was also suspended. 

Related posts:

Government welcomes lifting of Guyana’s temporary suspension from EITI City Council votes for more time to study legal opinion against Bulkan’s suspension of parking meter by-laws Trump’s Immigration Policies will have impact on all of our lives -says Director of Guyana Foreign Service Institute Public servants begin Spanish course at Foreign Service Institute