As investigations into alleged mismanagement at Airports Fiji Limited continues, the Auditor General has questioned the former AFL management team's Boot Camps in 2005 and 2006, which totaled more than $70,000.

It has been revealed that the previous board of AFL had approved on 6th December 2005, a budget of $19,601 for a management retreat to be held at Pacific Harbour and $34,376 for a Boot Camp. However the AFL management busts the budget for both of these expenditure accounts.

Several anomalies were found in the 2006 AFL Boot Camp. These included the purchase of sleeping bags - 25 bags were bought on the 2nd of November, 2005, another set of 30 sleeping bags were bought at a cost of $1,170 on 18th January, 2006 and then again on 19th January, 2006 a cash cheque of $551.88 was issued for the purchase of sleeping bags from Cost U Less. According to the Auditor General, supporting documents were not provided to substantiate this expenditure. Furthermore, there was no evidence to indicate that the sleeping bags purchased were recorded and kept for further use.

Cash cheques amounting to more than $3,000 for lunch, donations, grog, dinner, breakfast and contingency were not supported with any documents. A payment of $1,755 was also made to Raffles Tradewinds on 2nd February, 2006 for beverages.

Several anomalies were also found in the 2005 Management Retreat and Boot Camp.

The AG said the absence of supporting documents casts doubts on the actual amounts used in the 2 boot camps. In addition, excessive payments were made for purchase of liquor. Moreover, there was no evidence to indicate that the boot camp held in 2006 was approved by the board. The total expenditure incurred on the AFL management retreat and boot camp in 2005 and 2006 amounted to $53,007 and $17,429 respectively.

While commenting on the Auditor General's findings, the AFL board and management said the Boot Camp was introduced with noble intentions as an exercise that would unite and promote team building in AFL and bring people within and between various departments and divisions closer because of the perceived divisions of people within the company.

The AFL management has also assured the AG that the necessary supporting documents will be provided to the Auditor General.