Senators Debate Re-appointment of Dorothy Bradley as Auditor General
The two-year contract that was awarded to Dorothy Bradley to serve as Acting Auditor-General, effective September first, was another issue that the Senate debated today. Bradley had served in that capacity under the Barrow administration, from September 2011 until December of last year, when she reached the retirement age of fifty-five. Prior to that, she had served as Accountant General, as well as Chief Elections Officer, and as Supervisor at the General Sales Tax Department. The Briceño administration awarded the contract to Bradley on the basis that the Audit Department has been without an Auditor-General since that time and also on grounds that it could not source someone who possesses the qualifications for serving in that capacity. The current government has cited achievements that Bradley has realized during her tenure, including the drafting of updated legislation, which allows the Auditor-General to function independently of the executive arm of government. Findings of investigations carried out by her office from 2011 to 2013 also exposed corrupt activities at the Department of Immigration and Nationality and irregularities, thereafter at the National Sports Council. And last year, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs honored Bradley with its Anti-corruption Champions Award. But today, the Senate debated Bradley’s re-appointment as Auditor-General. Among the debaters was Veronica Camera, who sat in as Temporary Senator in today’s session for U.D.P. Senator, Michael Peyrefitte, also shared her views on the matter.
Collet Montejo
Collet Montejo, Senator, P.U.P.
“The United States Department of State awarded her – or made her an anti-corruption champion. That speaks volumes, that speaks volumes. As a matter of fact, it was under her leadership, Madam President, that many corrupt practices were unveiled. She did her job without fear or favour. Auditors, generally, are not liked, especially when it comes to auditing the public service. They’re not liked, but she’s not there to be trouble to anybody there. She’s there to get a job done.”
Bishop Moses Benguche
Bishop Moses Benguche, Senator, Churches
“I’m willing to support her appointment here this morning based on the fact, as was mentioned, that as a country we have to continue to press for accountability at every level. Yes, we must be concerned about succession-planning, and I think that is extremely important. It cannot be that we have to go back to a person to ask them to take up a task after his or her tenure has been completed. And yes, I would be concerned that as we go forward, but as I stand here this morning, Madam President, and as I stand in this Senate, I’m prepared to support the appointment.”
Elena Smith
Elena Smith, Senator, N.T.U.C.B.
“We must, as we represent workers of this nation, share some of the concerns that the workers have shared with the N.T.U.C.B. And I know that we may say well, there should be no worries or there should be no fear, that persons should be open and willing enough to share concerns or to stand up for injustices when they see them, but that is not always as easy as it may seem. As a matter of fact, when we pay attention to what happens in our country, how many of us are fearful of standing up for what is right? So I’m sure that we heard earlier complaints that employees would have as it relates to the Auditor-General when she was Auditor-General. And these complaints have come to us, and as Senator Benguche has said earlier, we too have received calls as it relates to this matter, where persons are concerned about the professionalism, in their explanation of this person. They are also concerned about the way that employees are being treated and the number of issues that have come up during the tenure of this Auditor-General.”
