Former Minister and Senator Melissa Peters has issued a stern warning to civil servants following the passage of an amendment to the Audit Act, which she describes as a “dangerous slope” for transparency in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Speaking on the radio program On the Record, Peters highlighted a controversial provision that criminalizes the disclosure of information by individuals privy to audit data, carrying a penalty of up to $10,000.
Peters argued that this amendment effectively muzzles whistleblowers who might otherwise expose the waste of government resources, citing the recent $50,000 USD expenditure to paint a flag on an InterCaribbean aircraft as an example of information the public has a right to know.
She contrasted this new penalty with previous versions of the act, where similar fines were reserved for those who obstructed audits or destroyed records, rather than those disclosing information for the “greater good”.
“It appears that civil servants now are being muzzled,” Peters stated, urging the Public Service Union to pay close attention to what she believes is just the beginning of a trend toward increased secrecy.
She further criticized the administration’s double standard regarding confidentiality, noting that while civil servants face heavy fines, the Prime Minister has failed to address concerns regarding the level of access his own son has to sensitive government information.
