And following the meeting, we asked UDP Senator Micheal Peyrefitte about the UDP's stance. He explained that the government had already asked for time to replace Bradley and extended her contract in the meantime. That contract has since expired but the post remained vacant. He added that the time period that Rodriguez would have been appointed coincides with strong rumors of when the next general elections will be held.
Michael Peyrefitte, Senator
"Our objections were, listen, you cannot appoint an auditor general for four months. You just can't. Even though the law does provide for you to appoint an acting auditor general, we don't believe in this case it's necessary. Now if it were a situation where you have picked a person but the person isn't available for six months or four months, and you have someone, then you appoint an acting auditor general. But we have none at all. So after four months what do you do? Had we agreed to the appointment of Ms Rodriguez as the auditor general for fourth months, after four months you don't have an auditor general still what do you do? You appoint her to be the permanent auditor general? Well if you believe she's qualified enough then do that from now. If you don't have a person, go and find someone who can fill that post substantively, with the right protections and ensure that comes with the office. We do not believe that when it comes to positions like that that they should only be appointed up a point where we believe would be the next general elections."
Courtney Menzies:
"As Senator Courtenay mentioned, that that four month period was supposed to be used so that they can find somebody that suits the position, in the meantime they would have somebody acting in that role because it's in the best interest of the Belizean people, as he put it, to have an auditor general even if it's only for four months."
Michael Peyrefitte, Senator
"They already came to the National Assembly and asked us to extend the appointment of Ms Bradley so that they could find one because it was imminent that they would be finding one. You cannot keep appointing these temporary auditor generals, we need somebody permanent politics and a person who can transcend political cycles. You tell a person that they can only act for four months, that person is going to wonder well if under four months, I am too harsh with the government, I'm going to lose my job. That's not the condition under which you appoint an auditor general. Now, it is a most unenviable catch 22 as you said. You want an auditor general but you don't just take the auditor general under any circumstances. You take the auditor general based on the proper circumstances. You should have found someone a long time ago, find a good package, pay them well, and have them serve 10 years or 15 years, tenure them so that they can feel secure in their appointment."
"It could go back to the House or the government could treat it how it wants to be treated. The government can say we will wait 3 months or 30 days and it becomes law or they can do what the sentiment of the business community, of the churches, of the unions are saying, go and find a proper auditor general, we find funds for so many other things that are less important, go and find the proper funding for a good auditor general, and we can have that person be appointed."
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