Auditor General Digs Into Defence Ministry Spending Back to 2015; The Office Barely Has the Power to Do It
The Office of the Auditor General is now at the centre of one of the most consequential investigations in its history, as it audits the Ministry of Defence amid mounting corruption allegations. This is an investigation that will stretch back over a decade and test an institution long criticised for lacking the resources and independence to hold power to account.
The investigation was triggered after a pattern of repeated payments under ten thousand dollars raised red flags at the highest levels of government.
“When we saw these continuous payments under ten thousand, obviously it raised questions and an alarm. That is why I called the financial secretary, and that is why we sent the auditor general to take a look at what is going on,” said Prime Minister John Briceno.
The Prime Minister has since expanded the scope of the audit well beyond the current administration’s financial transactions. “The auditor general is also going to be auditing in 2015. So we’re going to find what John Saldivar was doing then,” Briceno said, announcing the extended timeline two weekends ago.
The decision to push the investigation back to 2015 has raised questions about whether the Office of the Auditor General can complete its work within the three months initially prescribed. Opposition Leader Tracy Panton is among those pressing for a broader, independent review. “It has to be addressed, in my view, by an independent and forensic audit, not only on those ministries and departments we have evidence on, but it is a systemic, in my view, systemic infraction,” Panton said.
The Auditor General’s post is established under the Constitution of Belize, with appointments made by the governor general. The Finance and Audit Reform Act is designed to shield the office from outside influence by any person or authority. But that independence has been publicly questioned. Dean Flowers, President of the Public Service Union, recently accused oversight bodies, including the Office of the Auditor General, of operating under political motivations. “These appointments are now all political, and nobody that is appointed to these offices seems to have the best interest of this country at heart and simply has their personal interest at heart and the party’s interest at heart to collect a stipend and maintain the status quo,” Flowers said.
On paper, the Finance and Audit Reform Act gives the Auditor General sweeping authority: the power to summon public officers for explanations; search any book, document, or record held by a public office; and access financial records with virtually no restriction.
In practice, the office has repeatedly run into resistance. Auditor General Maria Rodriguez described the problem in a May 13 interview. “The executive says to my staff, ‘I am not available,’ or they simply don’t respond and I don’t have anywhere to go. Where do I go to say they don’t want to make themselves available?” Rodriguez said. “So, I think that it is very important to highlight at this point, separate and distinct from the Parliament, the executive has to make themselves available to answer questions from the Auditor General.”
Despite being responsible for scrutinising billions of dollars in public expenditure, the Office of the Auditor General operates on a budget of just over three million dollars, placing it near the bottom of all government-funded entities and making it one of the smallest offices in the national budget.
Prime Minister Briceno maintains the process is moving forward with full cooperation. “The auditor general is starting to compile all information. CEO Usher has assured me that they are cooperating to a full extent, and the auditor general will do a full investigation. And if there was any wrongdoing, be it public officers or politicians, they would have to answer,” Briceno said.