Minister, civil servant at odds over Santucci

Bernews reported last night that Mr Santucci, who is currently on leave of absence from his political role after losing his job as a food and beverage manager at the Grotto Bay Beach resort, had been hired on a four-month contract to assist with road safety legislative changes.

The website quoted Transport Minister Terry Lister confirming the job and citing Mr Santucci’s role as chairman of anti drink-driving organization CADA as credentials for the role.

“As everyone in Bermuda knows, he has been chair of CADA for a number of years and surely everyone would understand that he has expertise that will be of real benefit to the Ministry,” Mr Lister is reported to have told Bernews.

There is no suggestion that Mr Lister was quoted inaccurately by Bernews. But his statement was contradicted in a release by Cabinet Secretary Donald Scott this morning.

In the statement Mr Scott denied that Mr Santucci had been hired.

He said all new appointments had to go through an internal review committee before being approved.

“It is categorically untrue that Mr. Santucci has been engaged by the Ministry of Transport as there has not been a submission to the Review Committee,” said Mr Scott, who is also head of the Civil Service.

His full statement follows:

“I note that there have been reports in the media of a consultancy to the Ministry of Transport.

“One of my first acts as Cabinet Secretary was to establish an internal review committee to vet all applications to engage staff. The committee also reviews applications to hire consultants. No ministry or department is exempt from the process.

“The Review Committee vets all requests and reviews the business case with a view to ensuring that the Government obtains value for money and that there is a defensible case to warrant the recruitment of staff or the hiring and retention of a consultant.

“There is documentation associated with the process and without the necessary approvals; there is no authority for the Accountant General to make payment.

“It is categorically untrue that Mr. Santucci has been engaged by the Ministry of Transport as there has not been a submission to the Review Committee.

“Further, with the passage of the Good Governance Act 2011, there are now offences for non-compliance with Financial Instructions and other codes of practice in government administration.”