NTUCB Criticizes Government’s Appointment of Contract Worker as Auditor General

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) is speaking out against the government’s decision to fill the Auditor General’s position with a contract worker. This week, the Public Service Union expressed concerns over the vacant seat of an Auditor General since Dorothy Bradley’s contract expired on August 31. The NTUCB claims that aside from the apparent dragging of its feet in filling the post, the government is now making it impossible for the office to hold the government accountable. Union President Luke Martinez believes the move will pressure the AG’s office to be less critical of the government and offer less protection of the public purse. 

Luke Martinez, President, NTUCB: “We’re hoping that the government would ventilate the proper procedures to ensure that we have an Auditor General soon. We know that the appointment is a constitutional appointment as is right now the deputy auditor general they have limitations and so until we have an Auditor General in place then certain things could happen. So for example our request to audit the $6.9. So the deputy auditors general have limitations in executing that. So the quicker the government ensure that we have a competent Auditor General the better it’s going to be for us. We will see the results quicker. “

Reporter: Do you agree in principle with having a constitutionally enshrined post filled with a contract officer ? 

 Luke Martinez, President, NTUCB: “So that is something that we’re exploring. As a matter of fact you see the National Trade Union Congress propping up with several interest groups and so we’re mounting support to get the feedback from other interest groups including our social partners to wrap our heads around this and to see what is going to best fit how we get all of this done. We know that the previous Auditor General was pushing for an Auditor General Act and pushing for autonomy. We’re saying sometimes of course the autonomy is important because you can’t audit yourself. As is right now the government is auditing itself, how it’s structured. So it comes right back to the governance structure. How we strengthen the governance structure collectively to ensure that it works for us. Until then it won’t work out, it’s not working out for us.”

The unions have also expressed concern over the proposed salary for the post.