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Hazel Spencer, a former Cabinet Secretary, has proposed that rotating staff across government departments could significantly enhance accountability and curb corruption. Drawing from his extensive experience as a customs officer, Spencer highlighted the benefits of regular reassignment, a practice that was standard during his tenure in the Customs Department. He shared these insights during the question-and-answer segment of the Vehicle Gate town hall meeting, emphasizing the detrimental effects of allowing employees to remain in the same position for extended periods. According to Spencer, such stagnation fosters familiarity, complacency, and, in some cases, collusion. “In my days in the Customs Department, we were rotated,” Spencer recalled. “Sometimes you end up down at the distillery, sometimes at the airport, sometimes you board a ship — all different functions in customs. You could not get too comfortable in one place.” Spencer suggested that reintroducing this practice across various departments, especially those managing public finances and procurement, could strengthen oversight and prevent scandals like the alleged EC $17 million vehicle procurement controversy currently under investigation. He stressed that internal safeguards, such as staff rotation, complement broader financial controls mandated by law. Earlier in the session, Spencer outlined the critical roles of Cabinet approval, Finance Ministry verification, and Treasury oversight in maintaining accountability. He warned that corruption thrives when any link in this chain fails. “People talk about systems failing,” he said. “But systems only fail when people stop doing what they are supposed to do. Rotation helps remind everyone that public office is about service, not comfort.” Spencer’s remarks align with a broader call from panelists at the town hall for institutional reform, transparency, and stricter enforcement of financial regulations. He underscored that good governance is not merely about rules on paper but also about the daily discipline of those tasked with enforcing them.

Former Cabinet Secretary Hazel Spencer has asserted that the alleged $17 million government vehicle scandal in Antigua and Barbuda could have been prevented had the nation’s financial oversight mechanisms operated as intended. Speaking at the ‘Vehicle Gate’ town hall meeting, Spencer meticulously outlined the standard procedures for capital expenditure, emphasizing the critical role of Cabinet approval, Treasury verification, and ministerial oversight in ensuring fiscal accountability. She expressed astonishment that such a substantial sum could be allocated for vehicle purchases without raising red flags within the Ministry of Finance or Treasury, labeling the oversight as ‘scandalous.’

Spencer detailed the step-by-step process that should govern capital projects: initial Cabinet approval, inclusion in national estimates, parliamentary budget approval, and the preparation of a general warrant by ministries. This warrant must then be scrutinized and signed by the Minister of Finance before funds are disbursed. ‘The Treasury must verify that all is in order before releasing any payments,’ she stressed, highlighting that these safeguards are designed to prevent unauthorized spending.

She further emphasized the ethical responsibilities of public servants and government ministers, urging them to remain vigilant, honest, and committed to upholding integrity. ‘When officials bypass rules or coerce civil servants into approving dubious transactions, the entire governance structure crumbles,’ Spencer warned. She also reminded attendees that civil servants are legally protected from arbitrary dismissal, empowering them to resist improper directives without fear of reprisal.

Spencer’s insights were part of a broader panel discussion examining how lapses in oversight, political interference, and weak enforcement enabled the alleged vehicle purchases. Her analysis provided an insider’s perspective on how adherence to procedural safeguards could have averted what she and other panelists described as a ‘catastrophic failure of accountability.’

In a candid admission, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has publicly acknowledged the pervasive corruption within his government, attributing it to mismanagement and deliberate neglect. Browne likened the corruption to a malignant cancer, spreading across all levels of the public service, with private sector influence deeply entrenched in government operations. This revelation, coming from the Minister of Finance and Corporate Governance, underscores the gravity of the situation, particularly as it highlights a decade-long embezzlement scheme under his administration.

Key infrastructure such as the Airport and Port are now under scrutiny, with calls for immediate independent audits. These sites have become hotspots for corruption, where customs controls are allegedly bypassed in favor of influential business operators. A recent incident at the airport involved the displacement of a long-standing local company to accommodate a prominent businessman seeking greater control over operations.

Antigua’s reputation for corruption is not new. The island has been internationally recognized for its high levels of corruption, with notable cases such as that of Allen Stanford, who exploited the airport’s secure zones to facilitate a global financial crime syndicate. Despite the exposure of these activities, the government has failed to address the violations of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules for over two decades.

In a bid to rectify these issues, Antigua has enlisted the expertise of an international aviation specialist, tasked with overhauling the airport within three months. This initiative aims to restore the country’s Category 1 status with ICAO and implement necessary regulatory measures to secure the airport’s perimeter, ensuring compliance with international aviation standards.