Former Auditor General Dorothy Bradley to be Reappointed

Dorothy Bradley

Earlier this week, senior public officers employed at the Audit Department wrote to C.E.O. Rolando Zetina expressing serious concerns about the manner in which that aspect of government is being managed.  This was in the absence of an auditor general since Dorothy Bradley retired from the post in 2021.  But the news today is that the former head of the department is being offered a two-year contract to return to her office, much to the chagrin of the opposition and the Public Service Union.  This morning, P.M. Briceño introduced a motion recommending Bradley’s appointment to the post.

Prime Minister John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Now therefore be it resolved that this honorable house recommends that Mrs. Dorothy Bradley be appointed to act as Auditor General for a period of two years, with effect from the first day of September 2022.  This motion has the recommendation of the Cabinet.  Mr. Speaker, as you all know, Mrs. Dorothy Bradley has been an exemplary public officer and has done, again, an exceedingly good job while she was the auditor general and the time came for her retirement and since then we’ve been trying to find, we believe, the appropriate person to take over the position.  But it was the general consensus that it would be best to offer another two-year contract so that she can then take those two years to continue the work of the auditor general, but at the same time prepare a smooth transition to finding or to training within its staff somebody that can take over the post of auditor general.  I urge both sides of the house to support this appointment Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to point out to the honorable house and to Belizeans that the president of the Public Service Union vehemently objects to Mrs. Bradley being given another contract on the basis that there are many qualified public officers that can assume that position and qualified Belizeans outside of the public service.  And further, the president of the P.S.U. does not paint the picture that the prime minister paints.  In fact he says that Mrs. Bradley’s tenure was filled with grievances and that she did a terrible job as auditor general and there are many outstanding grievances from her time that disenfranchised public officers.  So, the opposition cannot support this.  I believe this is a lazy approach by the government.  Buckle down, find a suitable auditor general and proceed.”