Finance Minister Paula Cox yesterday pointed to Government's sometimes rocky marriage with the Auditor General — but insisted it was an effective relationship.

In a speech to auditor generals from across the Commonwealth, at Fairmont Southampton, the Minister acknowledged Larry Dennis' key role in spotting how accountability can be improved.

She also spoke of the difficulties faced by authorities in any country in meeting ever-rising standards of practice.

"The relationship is not always easy," said Ms. Cox. "On occasion both sides — the Office of the Auditor General and the Government — believe that each side is being less than impartial and that politics writ large operates.

"That does not bode well as it bespeaks a lack of trust, good will and mutual respect.

"However, any relationship that is worth having and salvaging requires hard work and communication.

"I genuinely believe that, despite navigating some choppy waters that on occasion seemed perilous, the relationship is an effective one. We may never be chums, nor should we be, given our disparate roles.

"Yet despite seeming best efforts across Ministries, too often, it seems as if one is treading water and that no matter the innovations, the systemic improvements, the added resources, it never measures up.

"Policy-makers the world over will say that no matter what has been done, inevitably there is more that needs to be done. The bar is continually being raised."

Twice last year, the Auditor General's office was searched by Police searching for a missing Bermuda Housing Corporation dossier.

Mr. Dennis — repeatedly accused by Government of being pro-Opposition in recent years — was arrested on suspicion of handling the allegedly stolen file, a claim he has always strongly denied.

The row intensified in the run-up to December's General Election when, at a Progressive Labour Party rally, then Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess accused Mr. Dennis of criminal conduct over the BHC issue.

Mr. Dennis retaliated by accusing Mr. Burgess of slander. The matter has not yet reached court.

Ms Cox's speech yesterday kicked off a three-day conference with the theme "Accountability for the 21st Century".

It will also include panel discussions lead by South Africa and Bahamas delegates, and presentations from the UK, Australia, Ghana, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Cayman Islands, Malaysia, India, Malta and Papua New Guinea.

The Minister told the audience Government had been working to get its accountability model right.

"Ministries have been working collaboratively to enhance accountability systems generally and to improve Government reporting for results," she said.

Examples included appointing an Ombudsman; parachuting controllers into high revenue-generating Ministries; setting up an internal audit function in Works and Engineering; the Government Internal Audit Department.

Ms Cox said the Premier, Finance Minister and Attorney General all had important roles to maintain good governance, as did the Auditor General, which she described as a whistle-blower.

She added: "Our collective focus as Government in tandem with the Auditor General is to enhance the accountability framework. We must be ever minded that the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in times of crisis. No guts, no glory."