Gerald Henry is Benched for Blowing the Whistle

Imagine being tasked with guarding the nation’s checkbook, only to be sidelined for trying to do just that. Gerald Henry, a key figure in the Office of the Auditor General, says he’s been benched for standing up against what he believes is an illegal Code of Ethics. And here’s the kicker, he actually agrees with the public’s long-standing criticism of the office he serves. According to Henry, if he were simply allowed to do his job, corruption in public spending could be drastically reduced. So, what’s really going on behind the scenes at the agency meant to keep our government accountable?

 

Gerald Henry, Public Officer

“I understand my role as a public officer and as an auditor. We should be playing critical roles in terms of the accountability of the public funds. For several years now we have not been doing so. I still remain hopeful that at some point, I was hoping we would have a new auditor general and that the direction would have changed. We are going further in the same direction. So, it is a bit discouraging and I only have a few more years left. Whatever contributions I can make to the country, that is how I see it. People out there won’t understand that I do not assign myself work, I wish I could do that. Trust me, we would not have half the corruption that is taking place over the years. But I cant. I have to wait until I am assigned tasks by the auditor general through my supervisor. That is how it is suppose to be. Unfortunately for the past two and a half years from October 2022 I was not assigned to do a single piece of work in the office. Although we weren’t working, I still had to come all the way from Dangriga, just to clock into the office, do nothing all day and then clock out when there is a telecommuting policy that could have been applied. Since you don’t want me to do any work we will workout that you stay at home until we resolve this thing in whatever way, but no they wanted to punish me.”