Vexed Bermoothes

A reader requested a copy of the Auditor General’s report, which is now a public document:

Special Report of the Bermuda Auditor General 2009 (pdf, now also available on Government’s website)

The Premier is complaining that the Auditor General has politicised his position and should be removed immediately.  My opinion is that you reap what you sow.  There have been many public complaints of politicisation of the civil service in recent years.  Anyone who lives here knows that.  With the ballooning size of our Government, I believe we need to emphasise the separation between political operatives and impartial civil servants.

Is the report a little over the top?  One should ask what an auditor is to do when:

My extended audit procedures revealed persuasive evidence of inappropriate behaviour and seriously compromised internal control systems. The internal controls that should have prevented such behaviour were rendered ineffective by ministerial intervention and failure by senior civil servants to carry out their responsibilities, and in some cases, to resist actual or perceived ministerial pressure.

There seems to be a cultural desire in Bermuda to believe that everything is hunkydory and to let lapses pass without raising a fuss.  Quite simply, it’s the auditor’s job to make a fuss when the rules aren’t followed.

Looking over past Bermuda Government audit reports, I believe that Larry Dennis has played nice for a long time.  One can only suppose that certain boundaries have been crossed leading him to act more forcefully – particularly with his impending retirement.

If you dislike his tone – well, we all know the history there.  Mistreat any dog – figuratively and literally – long enough and sooner or later he’ll bite.

In the business world, if you get a negative audit opinion, you fix the problems rather than shoot the messenger.  That should be the case in Government as well (and it should be noted, that Government responds in today’s Royal Gazette that steps are being made to remedy some of the issues pointed out by the Auditor).

Every criticism is not a “plantation issue” and challenge to authority that requires an extravagant and emotional response.  I believe the changes being asked for are not unreasonable; they are similar to what every manager in the private sector must do.  The PLP and the civil service are perfectly capable of implementing them.  I believe that defiance to correct lapses – basic management good practice – taints their achievements and fuels Bermuda’s distrusts … and will invite an inevitable eventual backlash.

More commentary here and here.