Certifications - -------------- I, Charles E. Porter, a principal financial officer of the funds listed on Attachment A, certify that: 1. I have reviewed each report on Form N-CSR of the funds listed on Attachment A: 2. Based on my knowledge, each report does not contain any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by each report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in each report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in each report; 4. Each registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act) for the registrants and have: a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which each report are being prepared; b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report (the "Evaluation Date") based on such evaluation; and c) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. 5. Each registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed to each registrant's auditors and the audit committee of each registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect each registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in each registrant's internal controls. /s/Charles E. Porter Date: September 25, 2003 - ---------------------- ------------------------ Charles E. Porter, Principal Financial Officer Certifications - -------------- I, Karnig H. Durgarian, the principal executive officer of the funds listed on Attachment A, certify that: 1. I have reviewed each report on Form N-CSR of the funds listed on Attachment A: 2. Based on my knowledge, each report does not contain any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by each report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in each report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in each report; 4. Each registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act) for the registrants and have: a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which each report are being prepared; b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report (the "Evaluation Date") based on such evaluation; and c) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. 5. Each registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed to each registrant's auditors and the audit committee of each registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect each registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in each registrant's internal controls. /s/Karnig H. Durgarian Date: September 23, 2003 - ---------------------- ------------------------ Karnig H. Durgarian, Principal Executive Officer Certifications - -------------- I, Steven D. Krichmar, a principal financial officer of the funds listed on Attachment A, certify that: 1. I have reviewed each report on Form N-CSR of the funds listed on Attachment A: 2. Based on my knowledge, each report does not contain any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by each report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in each report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in each report; 4. Each registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act) for the registrants and have: a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which each report are being prepared; b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report (the "Evaluation Date") based on such evaluation; and c) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. 5. Each registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed to each registrant's auditors and the audit committee of each registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect each registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in each registrant's internal controls. /s/Steven D. Krichmar Date: September 24, 2003 - ---------------------- ------------------------ Steven D. Krichmar, Principal Financial Officer Attachment A - -------------- 003 Putnam Investors Fund 007 Putnam Voyager Fund 073 Putnam Premier Income Trust 035 Putnam Tax-Free Insured Fund 2AQ Putnam Research Fund 2SL Putnam International Fund 2000 2AP Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund 036 Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund 001 The George Putnam Fund of Boston 006 Putnam Vista Fund 024 Putnam OTC & Emerging Growth Fund