Maria Rodriguez is Sworn in as New Auditor General  

Maria Rodriguez has officially taken on the role of auditor general. Her appointment was approved by the House of Representatives and Senate, despite some pushbacks from the Opposition and its allies in the upper house. Earlier today, Rodriguez visited the Governor General’s office in Belmopan to take her Oath of Office. She will serve until 2047, making her the longest-serving senior civil servant responsible for enhancing government accountability through audits and reports on government operations. Earlier today, News Five spoke by phone with Dean Flowers, President of the Public Service Union.

 

On the phone: Dean Flowers, President, P.S.U.

“I think it’s important that firstly I recognize the excellent work of the senator for the NTUCB in highlighting and expressing to the country the concerns that labor has with the appointment.  But, nonetheless, we live in a democracy, albeit it’s extremely messy.  I think that it’s also important that I point out how ironic the pronouncement of the Chamber was.  The chamber senator would have questioned the qualifications and whether or not the individual was suitable but yet would not have taken a position such as that which the labor senator would have taken.  The recommendation has passed through successfully, through both houses and so it is important that we recognize that and we offer congratulations to the newly appointed Auditor General.  It is also important that we give her our full support, and so it is important then that as the representative of public sector workers that we have a conversation with her during which I intend to be twofold.  How do we ensure and assist that the environment in which public officers work in within the Auditor General’s ministry in terms of all the legacy grievances that exist and that existed?  How do we get past those to ensure that the officers can focus on giving her their full support  to ensure that they’re able to deliver for the people of Belize through regular and quality audits?”