And while that new integrity commission is a key oversight mechanism for propriety in public life, there's still no one filling the post of another major oversight post, the Auditor General. The former one, Dorothy Bradley, retired last December after ten years of being in that position. But the government is having trouble replacing her since they say they can't find anyone with enough experience.
Today the PM said they'd be open to the idea of Bradley coming back on for a one year contract - but considering that she's supposed to hold the government accountable, having her on a contract doesn't seem like such a good idea.
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Remember early on, I did speak with her before she retired and at that moment she as of the opinion that she thinks she needs to rest, if she is reconsidering, probably she is, the problem or the challenge we have is trying to find a suitable candidate at this time so if she were to be asked to stay on at least one more year until we find a suitable candidate, I will not be opposed."
Jules Vasquez:
"But it is worthy of opposition because you cannot have somebody who should hold the government to task on a contract because then as you know and you criticized the Barrow administration for contract judges, you cannot have people whose job must be independent working on a contract, maybe I'll get renewed, maybe I won't get renewed, maybe they pull me contract. They need tenure."
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"But this case is different and I say, I'm serious, I'm not arguing with you, it is different in this instance, simply because first she refused, she said it's time to get somebody else and we have been having some issues in trying to find an adequate replacement and I speaks no ill will of the people that are there presently but we believe it needs a little bit more experience so for her to come back for one more year, what can she do in one year, if she does anything out of the way, the new contractor general that supposedly would be more independent, in your words, not mine, can come and investigate anything so if she's only for one year, if that is going to happen, the FinSec has not appraised me of that matter though."
