WORKS & Engineering Minister Alex Scott's suggestion this week that the Auditor General's position should be reviewed amounted to trying to make the Government "unchecked and unbalanced", former Deputy Premier Jim Woolridge said yesterday.

If pursued by the Government, Minister Scott's proposal, which included reviewing Mr. Dennis' position, would clash with rules of the Bermuda Constitution, in which the Auditor General's position is enshrined.

"I'm absolutely amazed that a Minister of the Government would openly advocate changing the Bermuda Constitution because he's unhappy with the conclusions that have been reached by the Auditor General in carrying out an investigation that was part and parcel of his constitutionally-mandated responsibilities," said Mr. Woolridge, who served as Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister under successive United Bermuda Party Governments.

"If you subscribe to the Works Minister's Draconian and irresponsible logic, then the next step is anarchy.

"Everyone - especially the Government - must abide by the rule of law in a civil society. No Government can take it upon itself to abolish what are meant to be permanent constitutional checks and balances that are put into place precisely to keep the administration of the day from becoming unchecked and unbalanced.

"I must confess I am absolutely staggered by the Works Minister's comments, absolutely staggered."

If the Government were to pursue such a change, it would have little chance of success, according to Warren Cabral, secretary of the Association for Due Process and the Constitution.

"I don't think the current discussion has been raised to the level where anything is likely to happen," said Mr. Cabral.

"And I think the British Government would be very alive to this proposal, given the circumstances in which it was made."

Under the Constitution, the Auditor General is appointed by the Governor and only the Governor can replace him. As such, the post is completely separate from the Government and his work enforces financial accountability (see more in Newsmaker on Page 5).

Mr. Scott said that in other countries people were appointed to the position on a set contract and then removed to bring new eyes to the auditing of Government finances and projects.

"Over a period of time, the Auditor General happens to audit his own handiwork. In other jurisdictions, after a period of time, he is changed," said Mr. Scott. "Maybe he is ensconced in a position to the point where we ask he is as objective as he should be, or he is editorialising and politicking."

He added that a review of Mr. Dennis' term might be needed, though he had not officially proposed such a plan to the Premier or the Governor.

Mr. Dennis was reluctant to comment in detail on Mr. Scott's suggestion yesterday. But the Auditor General did say: "Mr. Scott has raised some serious points which need to be discussed in a reasonable way.

"The appointment is a constitutional matter and such an issue requires an in-depth discussion. And I would be willing to be part of that discussion."

This newspaper yesterday faxed questions to Governor Sir John Vereker, including whether he thought there were any grounds for a review of Mr. Dennis' position. We received no response.