Auditor General Responds to Unions’ Baseless Assertions

Dorothy Bradley

Auditor General Dorothy Bradley was in the crosshairs of the unions on Wednesday when they took aim at her and several others, including Financial Secretary Joseph Waight and Central Bank Governor Joy Grant.  Bradley responded this afternoon by issuing a release correcting what she refers to as baseless assertions from the Public Service Union and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers.  The statement goes on to say, “the same constitution provides mechanism via which the work of the Auditor General can be reviewed and if the unions were indeed legitimately aggrieved, they should use the proper process instead of launching baseless attacks to try and tarnish the office.”

Dorothy Bradley, Auditor General

“Any attack, and I view it as an attack, but any attack on Dorothy Bradley would be okay.  It is something that maybe I would ignore, but when you talk about the Office of the Auditor General, it is a direct attack and one that must be addressed.  So yesterday, yes, I was kinda really shocked when I heard that part because it was clipped and sent to me and when I reviewed what was said, I realized that from the onset this had to be from an ongoing and old issue that we‘ve had in the office over a period of time.  It isn‘t the first time, as I‘ve said in the release, that they‘ve made this attack and they have also demanded, really demanded that I be fired.  The constitution makes provisions for that, as I have stated, so for me that is not a concern.  If you question the work I do then you have to justify and explain what is it you want to know and then come to me and let us discuss.  It never happened.  As a matter of fact, as late as last week Wednesday, I was in a meeting with the A.P.S.S.M. and we never, at least the president never made any revelations as to this kind of attack against any public officer for that matter.  So where it is coming from, clearly there has been an old issue, one that has not been addressed to their satisfaction and it would appear that their satisfaction would mean that my not being in this office, but that is not their call.” 

Reporter

“Why is the call for your being fired baseless in regards to your contract, as they are saying?”

Dorothy Bradley

“It has to be baseless for obvious reasons.  I am not on a contract, I am a public officer.  Secondly, the constitution makes provisions and protects me in that office from people of that very nature.  Just imagine doing audits or functioning in that office and because you are not popular which at this point I would like to say to you that I did not run for a popularity contest.  I know exactly what it is that I undertook and I fully intend to continue and to do what I have to do.”