Senate divided on re-appointment of retired Auditor General

Black Immigrant Daily News

by Khaila Gentle

BELMOPAN, Mon. Aug. 29, 2022

The motion to reappoint Dorothy Bradley as Auditor General was tabled during the Sitting of the Senate today and received support from some members, and opposition from others.

The motion was introduced in accordance with Section 109 (2) of the Constitution, which stipulates that, if after January 15, 2022, the office of the Auditor General is vacant or if the holder of that office is unable to exercise the functions of the office, the Governor General, acting on the recommendation of the National Assembly, may appoint a person to act as Auditor General.

The post of Auditor General has been vacant since December 7, 2021, when Dorothy Bradley retired from the position. Last week, during the Sitting of the House of Representatives, the Government recommended that Bradley be reappointed and that she serve as Auditor General for the next two years until a suitable replacement can be found.

UDP Senator Beverly Williams rose to state that she could not support the motion, pointing out the fact that Bradley’s tenure as Auditor General was rife with grievances on the part of public officers working under her. Senator Williams, who is a former Commissioner of Sales Tax, added that she had the opportunity to work with Bradley in her then substantive post as Assistant Commissioner of that department.

“No public officer, Madame President, wrote to the Ministry of Public Service on my performance during my tenure of thirty-five years in the public service, nor to the commission. No public officer complained about not getting their subsistence, about not being allowed their allowances where it was prescribed that they were entitled to those allowances,” said Senator Williams.

PUP Senator Collet Montejo, however, noted that Bradley, despite the conflict with public officers, was able to uncover many corrupt practices during her time as Auditor General.

“She did her job without fear or favor,” Senator Montejo said.

He also pointed out that the US Department of State designated Bradley as an “anti-corruption champion”.

“If we recall, she was the one that highlighted the many corrupt practices and the illegalities in the Immigration Department. As a matter of fact, it was because of the work that she and her department did that a sitting minister was removed from Cabinet,” he added.

The PUP Senator then went on to state that the need for an Auditor General is urgent.

Senator Bishop Alvin Benguche, the representative for the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, in addition to explaining why he supported the motion, rose to relay concerns brought to him by various sectors concerning Bradley’s reappointment.

“As I received these emails and information, they were both for and against. But as we sit here and will have to make a decision, both personal and as it involves the Senate, I must say that, in light of the fact that Dorothy Bradley has been asked to take up the post for an additional two years, we see the numerous accolades and ways in which she has served her country, both at home and abroad,” he said.

Bishop Benguche said that those who contacted him in opposition to Bradley’s appointment raised mostly personal concerns. He also stated that he thought long and hard about why he could stand in the Upper House and be able to support the motion.

“While there is the concern about perhaps what was done in her tenure as far as some persons were concerned, I can also say that I was told that here is a principled person who has served her nation well and has done everything insofar as principle is concerned. That might be hard for some people to swallow, but I can only speak from that perspective,” said Bishop Benguche.

PUP Senator Erica Jang also supported the motion. Senator Elena Smith, the representative for the National Trade Union Congress, however, shared some of the concerns that workers of the NTUCB have raised.

“I am sure that we have heard earlier the complaints that employees would have had as it relates to the Auditor General when she was Auditor General and as Senator Benguche said earlier, we too have received calls as it relates to this matter,” she said.

Senator Smith said that persons pointed to issues of the former Auditor General’s professionalism as well as the manner in which public officers serving under her have been treated.

“One of the larger concerns would be that of not being able to fulfill the duties as prescribed of an Auditor General, and that would be in relation to the reports that should have been submitted, or the audits that should have been carried out. For example, there should be accounts of all officers and authorities of government, all courts of law, the Belize Advisory Council, every commission—all of these things should be done on a yearly basis,” she said.

The concern, said Senator Smith, is that these audits have not been done over the past few years. UDP Senator Veronica Camara rose in agreement, adding that there are already persons in the Audit Department capable of taking over the post.

In addition to stating that the NTUCB does not support the motion, Senator Smith called for a division on the matter. In total, nine senators were in support of the motion while four were in opposition.

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