Former United Bermuda Party leader Grant Gibbons yesterday accused Finance Minister Paula Cox of "absolute silence" over the recent blocking of the Auditor General. Dr. Gibbons said he asked a string of questions relating to Heather Jacobs Matthews' claims that she was denied full access to Government's computerised financial system earlier this month.

"What's the Finance Minister's position on this?" he asked during yesterday's Motion to Adjourn in the House of Assembly.

He asked how the situation had been allowed to happen, adding: "Most of us in the community felt this was a very serious issue indeed and it strikes at the very core of a democratic society."

Last night, Ms Cox told The Royal Gazette a press statement from Financial Secretary Donald Scott shortly after the allegation had been "very clear and specific as to the issue relating to access of the Auditor General".

In that statement, Mr. Scott said it was "an egregious and terrible error" to say the Finance Ministry had blocked the Auditor General from accessing Government's financial information system.

He explained the Financial Information Management System was being upgraded, which included a review of the access given to users across Government.

"During the change to amend the incorrect level of approval authority for the Auditor General, the Auditor General's ability to view the FIMS system across Government, and indeed to approve her own department's transactions, was interrupted inadvertently. The functionality has been restored," he said.