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Auditor General is a true civil servant

As of Wednesday, May 4, 2016

EDITOR, The Tribune.

If we had a competition to “name the man of the year” in the Civil Service, there is no doubt my choice would be Mr Terrance Bastian, Auditor General.

Finally, after years of malpractice the Auditor General’s reports are going from his office to that of the Speaker of The House, avoiding the OPM - Ministry of Finance, where conveniently the release to the Speaker was timed based on what the report found. Many times the Auditor General’s report was not tabled for years - Constitution Article: 136-{4)...without undue delay! Unfortunately the Auditor General’s reports, do not get debated.

If there is one change to the Constitution, I would propose that it would be a requirement, annually, within three months of the tabling of the Auditor General’s report, for a full debate. Government must be accountable and fully transparent.

So has anything happened to the past exposure?

Abaco some $600,000 in Vehicle License fees missing?

Social Security food vouchers $200.000 missing, files shredded?

Freeport some “000’s missing.

Post Office Savings Bank monies missing.

NIB

BAMSI fire and construction contract....and as they would say the list goes on.

Surely in a Westminster system, it is not good enough to hear and accept the comment of the Minister of Social Services, Melanie Griffin, and semingly push the issues of that Ministry under the rug, as if it is not important? Where is Ministerial responsibility? The police must be brought in and heads must roll.

Our Ministers need to understand that you are supposed to have our trust - breach it and you have to resign. I am waiting Minsters! Certainly Social Services Minister looked very frazzled being interviewed last evening.

W THOMPSON

Nassau,

April 27, 2016.

Comments

sheeprunner12 7 years, 11 months ago

How come this upstanding fearless civil servant is still serving this PLP government???? ..... they should have already retired him in their "public interest" ............. BOL

But we must admit that Mr. Bastian has proven to be "one in a million" when it comes to calling a spade a spade when it comes to public finances ....... Bastian needs to start calling out all of these ineffective, lousy, incompetent, crooked, "past their usefulness" Permanent Secretaries who are really in charge of these Ministries............Chippie should follow Bastian's example.

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thephoenix562 7 years, 11 months ago

Security of tenure.

  1. The Auditor-General may be removed from office only for inability to discharge the functions thereof (whether arising form infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misbehavior, and shall not be so removed except in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (9) of this Article.
  2. The Auditor-General shall be removed from office by the Governor-General if the question of his removal from office has been referred to a tribunal appointed under paragraph (10) of this Article and the tribunal has recommended to the GovernorGeneral that he ought to be removed from office for inability as aforesaid or for misbehavior.
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sheeprunner12 7 years, 11 months ago

Well .......... the wheels must be turning to set up that Tribunal!!!!!!!!!

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birdiestrachan 7 years, 11 months ago

Mr: Bastian is only doing his job. And where wrong doing is found it should be corrected. If money is missing those who did the stealing should be brought to justice..

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asiseeit 7 years, 11 months ago

Did you hit your head Birdie? My God you finally said something that makes sense and is correct! Maybe there is hope.

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Sickened 7 years, 11 months ago

Good on you Birdie for supporting civil society.

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MonkeeDoo 7 years, 11 months ago

At least the opposition have one voice crying out, even if it is not in the House,

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