The country’s current Auditor General, Deodat Sharma,Michael Jordan Jersey, over the years has not only received criticisms from the political opposition but also from members of the government who sat on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Tenth Parliament.APNU Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl GreenidgeWhile there were many, the complaints from both sides of the House pointed to the weaknesses of the AG’s office, instances which reflected a lack of competence and lack of clarity in even the actual notes of the AG’s report.The Opposition has also expressed that the AG has been too lenient when exposing areas of suspected corruption and even when exercising the powers of his office to implement sanctions on various Ministries and state entities.Many of these would have been tardy when dealing with matters he raised which were based on breaches of the financial laws of the country.It is for the aforementioned and more that A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) posit that the tenure of Sharma under the coalition government, would definitely be on shaky grounds.AFC Youth Representative,Dwight Freeney Falcons Jersey, Trevor Williams,Kevin Faulk Patriots Jersey UK, who sat on the Public Accounts Committee during the life of the Tenth Parliament,Dermontti Dawson Steelers Jersey, said that he does not want the partnership’s position to be misconstrued to be that they are against Sharma, “simply because we don’t like him.”“The post of Auditor General is a profound one as he sits as the keeper, the guardian of the national purse. Both sides of the House had agreed on several occasions that his work was not satisfactory. He was found wantingAFC Youth Representative, Trevor Williamsmany, many times. He was not resolute and stern and failed to crack the proverbial whip when agencies failed to adhere to his recommendations.“This has nothing to do with just wanting to victimize Sharma but strictly because we feel that he has performed poorly over the years. We need a stronger and more experienced person holding that post.“We will ensure that the bar is raised and that the person who goes to that post is an independent thinker and one who is opposed to corruption. Having such an AG is undoubtedly part and parcel of the plan to restore Guyana to a place of accountability and transparency,” Williams said.Also expressing similar sentiments was Carl Greenidge who headed the PAC prior to Parliament being dissolved.Greenidge, the APNU Shadow Minister of Finance said that while he wants to stay clear of commenting on the personality of the individual, the partnership would want the AG’s office strengthened and would want to see a greater range of skills there as well as guarantee the reinforcement of his independence.Asked if it is likely that the AG would be selected from Civil Society, he said,Nick Perry Packers Jersey UK, “That is also very possible, and even in a number of other areas.”Given the sensitivity of the post,Boston Red Sox Clay Buchholz Jersey, he said, too,James Harrison Steelers Jersey UK, that he would not want to take it upon himself to say that the AG will specifically come from civil society.The former Finance Minister said that the biggest problem might be finding an AG who is going to act independently and fearlessly on a number of things, apart from being technically competent.“He must be one who recognizes that if things are not being done properly he will be upfront in that fight,” Greenidge added.The opposition member was then asked whether he finds any of these qualities in Sharma. However, Greenidge did not comment directly.“We have had some tough, meticulous and brave AGs but others who were quite the opposite and an APNU+AFC government will not encourage the latter.”Greenidge,Green Bay Packers Jersey UK, who had spoken on several occasions on the deficiencies of the public accounting system, sought to remind of some of the weaknesses of the AG’s office and how those had a bearing on how effectively the PAC was able to carry out its functions.The politician said that the problems of appointing a strong AG as well as confirmation of staff are well known and documented issues.He specified that one troubling matter remains the appointment of the Finance Minister’s wife to the most senior technical position in the Department of Audit, even though the Minister was being?criticized for his role in key agencies that have to be audited.The results of the May 11 polls, he opined, will level the playing field in that regard.Greenidge said too that the absence of supportive enforcement or oversight mechanisms as in the case of procurement, where there is no Public Procurement Commission was a problem that also affected the works of the PAC.