HM Government of Gibraltar strongly rejects the content and conclusions contained in the section on Attendance and Punctuality in the Public Service (page 210) of the Principal Auditor’s Report for the Financial Year 2018–2019.

At 16:10 on Friday 30th May, the official retirement date of the former Principal Auditor, and just five minutes before the close of business, Mr Sacramento sent a lengthy email outlining criticisms he intended to include in his report. He then proceeded to publish them without allowing any time for a response. The report allegedly went to print that same weekend. This appears to have been a deliberate act designed to prevent public servants from responding, clarifying, or correcting the many factual inaccuracies included.

The Government considers this approach to be deeply unprofessional and contrary to the most basic principles of fairness, transparency, and integrity. That such allegations were included without context or explanation, and mere minutes before the Auditor’s departure from public office, speaks volumes. It is also concerning that some media reporting, including by GBC, failed to disclose this crucial timing, thereby giving the public a distorted understanding of the process.

Unsubstantiated and Misleading

The statements in the report regarding attendance are inaccurate, exaggerated, and wholly unsupported by operational reality. Public servants continue to serve Gibraltar with professionalism and dedication. Any citizen who has visited a Government counter, attended the GHA for an appointment, dropped off children at school, or used other Government services will know that departments open on time, function efficiently, and are staffed by dedicated individuals. The suggestion of widespread attendance failures is plainly false.

No Right of Reply

The refusal to provide departments, or the Chief Secretary’s office, with a meaningful opportunity to respond undermines the legitimacy of the report. Any credible audit process allows affected bodies time to comment on findings, especially where reputational damage to individuals and institutions is foreseeable.

Reform Efforts Deliberately Ignored

The report completely fails to mention numerous reforms implemented in recent years to strengthen attendance and punctuality, including:

• Digital attendance systems and FOBS already in use across several departments
• Managerial oversight and internal control mechanisms
• Disciplinary procedures for persistent lateness or absenteeism
• A circular issued to all Heads of Department to verify facts ahead of the Government’s formal response

These were either already in place or actively underway during the period reviewed, but were omitted from the report.

Demoralising and Unfair

The tone and content of this section are dismissive and unjustified. They tarnish the reputation of thousands of hardworking public servants who deliver essential services every day. These individuals deserve recognition and respect, not a last-minute parting shot from a retiring Auditor, issued without due process or balance.

Government Stands by Its Public Servants

The Government and the Chief Secretary reaffirm their full confidence in the integrity, dedication, and professionalism of the Gibraltar Public Service. Attendance and performance are taken seriously and managed through robust, fair, and accountable systems.

A full response will be delivered in Parliament. In the meantime, the Government assures all public servants and the wider public that the comments made in this section of the report are not only rejected, they are recognised as a calculated, last-minute attempt by the former Principal Auditor to unfairly discredit a public service he gave no opportunity to defend itself.

Ironically, the former Principal Auditor highlights his own department as being one of the very few that he considers to be in full compliance with General Orders on this matter. We let the public and public servants make up their own mind.