Palau has been without a full-fledged Public Auditor for the last 10 years.
In an interview, the President disclosed that he has already instructed Finance Minister Kerai Mariur to submit names of candidate for that post.
“Because it is a Constitutional position that has a very important function, appointing a full-fledged Public Auditor has been one of the priorities of my administration,” Toribiong pointed out.
A Public Auditor functions as the head of Public Auditor’s Office. He leads in the in the monitoring, audit and review of financial statements and transactions in government.
“I gave Min. Mariur until the end of this month to submit names to me, so that before the end of this year, I can appoint a permanent head to that office,” he said.
For the past 10 years the position has been occupied and duties of a Public Auditor have been performed by Saturino Tewid in an acting capacity.
Tewid was not originally eligible to fill the role of Public Auditor because he is not a certified public accountant, as required by law.
But with the passage of RPPL 7-25 in January 2007, Tewid’s years of service, successfully filling the role of Acting Public Auditor, qualified him for appointment to the full position.
But despite the fact the position has remained unfilled and Tewid continues to head that office in an acting capacity where he could be replaced anytime by the appointing power.
The situation prompted several lawmakers to call on the Chief Executive to appoint a full-time Public Auditor as soon as possible.
The lawmakers said the situation continues to compromise the independence of the Public Auditor’s Office and the one heading it, and should be rectified through a permanent appointment.
The Public Auditor is protected from political reprisal for his work, in that he or she can only be removed for cause, with the approval of two-thirds of both houses of Congress. An acting Public Auditor has no such protection.
The authority to appoint a Public Auditor rests with the President, subject to confirmation by the Olbiil Era Kelulau.