We do not have enough Barbadians who are sufficiently engaged with civic responsibilities. Despite our reported high allocation to the national education budget and reputedly above average level of literacy and intelligence, black politicians continue to laugh at us. Although it must be stated, there is one group in the shadows happy to support the status quo.

Thankfully, some of us, although in the minority, continue to highlight important issues of the day – especially governance related issues. The following was posted by Wade Gibbons to his Facebook page. It is an issue that has also been highlighted in this space: the uncomfortable length of time the office of the Auditor General has been vacant.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley promised Barbadians that the Barbados Labour Party would focus on improving governance upon taking the reins of office in 2018 – decrease the number of consultants employed by the government, and proclaim a suite of integrity laws, including a Freedom of Information Act and Integrity Act. All empty promises to date. It is worth noting the haste with which legislation was “debated” and implemented to prevent BLP defectors from “crossing” the floor.

In a country that professes to adhere to democratic ideals, should it not be a national imperative for a government that has won 30–0 in the last two general elections to act with urgency to recruit a new Auditor General AND implement the full suite of transparency legislation? Instead it is business as usual.

Are we there yet?

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See Wade Gibbons post on Facebook:

LET’S FETE!

The office of the Auditor General is one of those ‘watchdog’ agencies that can hold government’s hands over the fire for the manner in which it spends/utilises taxpayers’ money. It can highlight any malfeasance committed by anyone with access to state funds, even though the office cannot proffer criminal charges.

The last appointed Auditor General, Leigh Trotman, retired on April 3, 2025. When he left office Trotman drew to the public’s attention his concerns about the recording and valuation of 404.9 million dollars in investments, as well as the accuracy of a reported 2.43 billion in tax receivables. He also bemoaned the fact that several government departments simply refused to provide his office with data on how they were spending taxpayers’ money.

One would think that any government that is operating above board would be in a hurry to not only appoint a new auditor general, but to strengthen his/her operational clout and legislative power with respect to punitive action. But to date, no one has been appointed and someone is simply acting in the position.

So here is the catch. The Auditor General’s job is one of those constitutional positions that, after appointment, cannot be touched by a prime minister, president, parish priest, prison officer, police or paro. He/she can do the job without fear or favour in the interest of the public. But if you are in an acting capacity, you are basically doing your job while looking over your shoulders and subject to the whims and fancies of the political directorate. There is then the possibility for fear and/or favour.

Why then would any government stall on making such a critical appointment, especially if there is no parliamentary Opposition? Why not treat as a priority ensuring that the Auditor General can properly track funds generated or used within the state’s network?

If we had an appointed Auditor General, perhaps he/she might be able to shine light on whether Corey Lane, a young MP who surrendered his City seat to an “Old Guard”, is being reportedly paid 18 000 dollars monthly as a consultant to UDC/RDC? And we might discover exactly what is the area of this consultancy? This, and so much more on how Barbadian funds are being spent, could be ascertained.

But I guess as long as we wear national colours in our 60th year of Independence and avail ourselves of the opportunities to wuk-up at pending parties and fetes, such inconsequential nonsense as taxpayers’ dollars means absolutely nothing!