For almost 3 years, Gerald Henry has gone to work at the Office of the Auditor General to do little to nothing. Henry - who is a qualified auditor - believes that this is one of the punitive ways he is being targeted. The reason? Well, he says it's mainly due to not wanting to sign a single document.
Henry and his former coworker, Doreth Obermayer, were the last remaining auditors who refused to sign onto ISSAI's Code of Ethics back in 2015 Because of this, they had been missing out on promotions and increments. While Obermayer is no longer employed with the office, Henry says he is still facing victimization.
And today, they held a press conference to explain why they chose not to sign the document. Courtney Menzies was there and has this story.
Imagine going to work but not having any tasks, any promotions, any increments, or any chance of moving up the ladder. That's what former PSU President Gerald Henry has been dealing with for years at the Office of the Auditor General. He and a former auditor, Doreth Obermayer, explained that they have been experiencing persecution and victimization at the hands of those who rank above them.
Gerald Henry, Auditor
"I have not received any increments from shortly after I was assigned to be a member of Mrs Rodriguez's section because my appraisals took a nosedive from scores of over 8 and above, which is above average, to less than 5 which is below average. And then when I did not get upset because the grades fell to below 5, I got less than 3, which is actually poor. So I could not receive any increments."
"I received scores of 3, 2, and as low as 1 that i didn't get even when I had just entered the public service and knew almost nothing."
"I was also assigned to enter yes and no on a spreadsheet for months. Which, shockingly, probably made the most use of my Masters Degree and many years of experience since I achieved the degree. I was given numerous letters for trivial issues more frequently than I used to write to my pen pal growing up."
But why is this happening? Well, the Office of the Auditor General issued a release last week following a two-man protest that Henry and Oberymayor held on June 9th, stating that they were deemed an audit risk because they did not want to sign the Code of Ethics in accordance with International Standards for Supreme Audit Institutions 130.
And during this morning's press conference, Obermayer explained why they believe the document should not be used at all.
Doreth Obermayer, Former Auditor
"First of all, this document that they are forcing officers to sign is, one, an international document that has absolutely nothing to do with GOB and the Office of the Auditor General. Two, the government of Belize never signed onto this document. According to a letter from the Office of the Auditor General, it was adopted by a former Auditor General upon attending a Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions event where he signed and agreed to adopt the international standards for supreme audit institutions.The government of Belize was never aware of an auditor general adopting and ratifying an international standard that was never tabled in the House of Representatives."
"Two officers who refused to sign the code of ethics were taken to the Public Service Commission. The first time it was a supervisor of audit, the Public Service Commission had never heard nor seen such a document so they had no choice but to throw out the case stating that this document has no validity within the public service."
"It is evident that the Belize Constitution Public Service Regulations 2014 comprehensively addresses the principles and standards outlined in ISSAI 130 code of ethics issued by INTOSAI. As such, the people in authority should find the application of ISSAI 130 redundant within the context of Belize's existing regulatory framework."
But that's not the only reason why they didn't sign it. And one signature has meant that for almost 3 years, they have been going to work but not given anything to do.
Gerald Henry, Auditor
"The reason why we didn't sign because in addition to what we showed there, there was an additional part to it and we've been trying to get our hands back on it and I don't think we have been able to get it where it speaks to discipline and that part was the dangerous part for us because that part basically said that the office can discipline us at any time for any reason that they want and not only that but we could e disciplined by the Institute of Chartered Accountants which is a private body so we could not sign onto something like that."
"As you can see, it asks for completed activities for the entire week. And of course the activity was not to do anything so it was not applicable for us because you said not to do any work. So there were no activities and the only activity was on Friday because the report was due on a Friday so the only activity that we had in this report was to prepare and submit the weekly report. Then they asked us to give ongoing activities which, again, you told me not to anything so there's no ongoing activity, again that is not applicable. And then they asked us to do challenges and setbacks to doing nothing. I didn't have any challenge or setback to doing nothing so that was not applicable."
And now they find themselves with nowhere else to turn since not even the Ministry of the Public Service can intervene.
Gerald Henry, Auditor
"In this letter they're stating to us that there's a new auditor general who has recently been appointed to the Office of the Auditor General and it says, you are therefore advised to first address these matters with the new auditor general as this is the proper procedure before any intervention by the Ministry of the Public Service. Now they're asking us to go to the same person who is oppressing us to try to get some relief."
And that's why they came to the media, to hope that the persecution can end and, in Henry's case, he can be given promotions and increments he is deserving of.
The release from the Office of the Auditor General states that, quote, "Current management has re-engaged one of the officers and has accepted the audit risk. The officer has been assigned to a team to conduct audit work. This was done in good faith and in hopes that his appraisal improves." End quote.
They added that in the case of Obermayor, there are no pending matters with her and her pension benefits have been calculated.
