6 days ago
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In another turn of events involving the PSU, its president Dean Flowers says he is deeply disappointed by the responses received from the Office of the Contractor General, the Office of the Auditor General, and the Accountant General’s Department in relation to his Freedom of Information request seeking records on alleged invoice splitting or “smurfing” within the government’s SmartStream system. Earlier this month, Flowers formally wrote to the three oversight agencies requesting information and records concerning allegations that government payments were deliberately broken down into amounts below established thresholds in order to evade additional scrutiny and oversight. In responses received this week, both the Auditor General and Accountant General acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns raised but indicated that the matters are either under review or subject to existing audit and accountability processes. The Office of the Contractor General, meanwhile, advised that its mandate primarily relates to the review and certification of contracts and procurement matters. Flowers, however, says he is dissatisfied with the positions taken by all three offices, arguing that the Freedom of Information Act is clear and that each office has a legal responsibility to act within its statutory mandate.
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union: “It is extremely important for these, the holders of these offices to understand that they have a duty and an obligation to follow the law. What we have seen so far is a coordinated failure of accountability. What we received from these offices is not transparency, it is evasion. The law requires answers. The Freedom of Information Act is clear and what we got were carefully written excuses from all three offices. None of their responses met the legal standard required by the Freedom of Information Act and it has to be called out. They are complicit then in keeping this thing under the rug when the Belizean people have a right to know, we have a right to know and they do not have a right to keep that from us.”
In many corners, it is being said that the red tape in government is what has led to the breaking down of invoices. President Flowers has dismissed those suggestions of excessive bureaucracy or lengthy processing times within the public service. He described such explanations as “pure nonsense,” insisting that public officers are obligated to follow established procedures irrespective of delays.
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union: “That is utter nonsense. And I would hope and pray that one day we will get a set of CEOs who, when they come to the media, they will tell the children the truth and stop making excuses for what they know in their heart. It’s a cover up. There is corruption. This signals corruption. Do you see MIDH breaking down those million dollars in road contract paying them people who are building roads and so on ? It doesn’t occur that way. This is what happens across all ministries that is doing the right thing. And so I am saying that the CEOs need to stop stop misleading the Belizean people that well if you break it down you could get your money quicker. Look there are rules in place to safeguard public finances and it doesn’t matter who that vendor is. If you’re going to do business with the Government of Belize you will get your money as long as you provide the goods and services and everybody already knows the bureaucracy of the system. And as far as I am concerned one has died because of that bureaucracy. So utter nonsense as far as I concerned with that commentary.”
According to the PSU, it will continue to pursue the matter even if it means taking the government to court.
English (US) ·