Auditor General Heather Jacobs Matthews yesterday accused the Finance Ministry of denying her full access to Government's computerised financial system.

And despite a Ministry statement at lunch time yesterday that access was now granted, Mrs. Jacobs Matthews claimed later in the day she was still being restricted.

The auditor said the move means she's unable to do her job of reporting on Government's activities and establishing that transactions are above board.

Both Opposition parties last night criticised the lack of transparency and asked: what is Government hiding?

Mrs. Jacobs Matthews discovered she was locked out as she attempted to use Government's Financial Information Management System (FIMS) to authorise payments for her own departments.

FIMS stores details of budgets and transactions including payments, salaries and revenues for each Government Ministry and Department; Mrs. Jacobs Matthews' team uses the system to examine whether transactions are properly supported and authorised. Asked why she may have been restricted, the auditor told The Royal Gazette: "I haven't a clue. I have always had full access and I am particularly required to have it for this job."

In a statement yesterday morning, the Auditor General's office claimed the Ministry had restricted Mrs. Jacobs Matthews' access to FIMS despite repeated requests for the past two weeks.

At 12.25 p.m. a Ministry of Finance spokeswoman replied: "The Ministry of Finance can confirm today that the Auditor General has been granted access to the Government accounting system."

Four hours after that, Mrs. Jacobs Matthews told this newspaper: "As it currently stands at 4.30 p.m., I am still without full access.

"This is what I am paid to do: report on the activities of the Government and I need full unrestricted 24/7 access to do so."

She said according to the Constitution, the Auditor General is allowed access to all books, records, and other documents relating to all accounts that she is mandated to audit, including FIMS.

"This restriction represents interference with the work of the Auditor General and limits our ability to provide Parliament and the people of Bermuda with the information that they have a right to know on a timely basis," she stated.

Finance Minister Paula Cox did not respond when asked whether access had been restricted and, if so, why.

Former Finance Minister Grant Gibbons, of the United Bermuda Party, said the restrictions merited a court challenge because it broke the Constitution.

"The Finance Minister's decision to block the Auditor General's constitutionally-empowered access to Government financial information is extremely serious and deeply disturbing," he said.

"All Bermuda should take note that this type of action threatens not just the reputation of the Government of Bermuda and the wider reputation of Bermuda but also the strength of Bermuda's Constitution: the basic law of the land.

"The Finance Minister's action will be viewed with deep concern by international business for the questions it once again raises about the integrity of the Government and its commitment to democratic principles of governance.

"The United Bermuda Party has long expressed deep concern about the Government's management of the public purse — its reckless spending on public projects, lack of contract tendering, lack of transparency, lack of spending accountability and the shocking rise in public debt.

"What is the Government hiding? What does the Finance Minister not want the people of Bermuda to see?

"We cannot think of one good reason why the Auditor General should be blocked. The fact that she felt she had to go public with her concerns underscores the seriousness of the situation.

"We consider this to be a completely unacceptable situation and see it as the latest development in a disappointing history in which Government behaviour has frayed Bermuda's attractiveness as an international business centre, made it more vulnerable economically and diminished long-term job prospects for many.

"The Government is putting Bermuda at risk. The Island can't afford this kind of behaviour to continue."

Bermuda Democratic Alliance chairman Michael Fahy said: "The governing party's interference with the work of the Auditor General is totally unacceptable and raises very serious questions — the main one being why restrict access?

"It leads any right-thinking person to question whether there is something to hide. When are these shenanigans going to stop? This is, after all, the very governing party that has been espousing PATI.

"What faith can the people of Bermuda have that Government is open and transparent when an office already enshrined in law is ignored?

"When the last Auditor General asked too many uncomfortable questions he was labelled a racist.

"What will the governing party's smear tactics be this time around? It is clear that the pigeons are coming home to roost now.

"The BDA strongly urges the governing party to fully cooperate with the Auditor General and truly be open to the sunshine of public scrutiny. The taxpayers of our Country deserve answers and information given their debt of at least $26,000 per person."