The future Comptroller General of Accounts will have to lead the control of public resources, but his work plan and capabilities may not be qualified in the grading table prepared by the Postulator.
Working table that could not specify the form of evaluation of the future applicants due to the lack of agreements of the commissioners, who differed in five aspects of the grading table.
The first of them was to give higher qualification to professional experience over academic preparationan issue that after a series of group meetings among commissioners and after the lunch break garnered unanimous support.
The same did not happen with the second difference. A group of commissioners wants points to be given to applicants for being licensed in accountingalthough this is already one of the constitutional requirements to apply for the position.
The third difference obtained 22 of 23 votes in favor and is that of include professional ethics in the grading table without scoringthe only commissioner who did not vote was Vilma Gálvez, from the College of Economists of Guatemala (CCEE).
“Perhaps it is the most complex issue to evaluate because, effectively, the ideal would be to find a means, more than the affidavits and certificates presented by the interested parties, to ensure their honesty”explained Roberto Moreno, president of the Commission.
The fourth and fifth points also did not obtain majority support to be accepted or rejected; a group of commissioners want points to be given to the results of the psychometric tests, as well as to the interviews and eventual work plan.
How was the analysis?
The Commission made four working groups; three made up of six commissioners and the remaining one made up of five, so that together they will analyze the grading table for 2018, the one proposed by the president of the Postulator and the recommendations sent by Guatemala Visible.
This work table is chaired by the rector of the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), deans of the faculties of economic sciences, together with representatives of the College of Public Accountants and Auditors (CPA) and the CCEE.
Group 01
- Roberto Moreno, president of the Nomination Commission and rector of the UVG
- Ahmed Abdalla, dean of the Rural University
- María Antonieta Del Cid, dean of the Rafael Landívar University (URL)
- César Sarat, representative of the CPA
- Vilma Gálvez, representative of the CCEE
- José Mazariegos, representative of the CPA
Group 02
- Abel García, secretary of the Commission and dean of the Mesoamerican University
- Luis Suárez, dean of the University of San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC)
- Milvia Elías, dean of the Regional University
- Ramiro Gómez, representative of the CPA
- Jeovani Navarro, representative of the CCEE
- Ronaldo Girón, dean of the Pan American University
group 03
- Silvia Cristina Duarte, substitute secretary of the Commission and representative of the CPA
- Julio Fuentes, dean of the Mariano Gálvez University
- Gerson Tobar, Dean of Da Vinci University
- Roberto Recio, dean of the International University
- Byron González, representative of the CPA
- Ingrid Chavarría, representative of the CPA
group 04
- Ariel de León, representative of the CPA
- Arlindo Velásquez, dean of the University of the West
- Erick Leony, dean of the Francisco Marroquín University
- Gerardo Santeliz, representative of the CPA
- Milton Fuentes, CPA representative
Each group appointed a representative who presented their recommendations or findings for the evaluation form of the applicants, which highlighted the difference in criteria.
María Antonieta Del Cid, dean of the Rafael Landívar University (URL), was the spokesperson for group 1, who highlighted the need to highlight the ethics of the future Comptroller.
“In ethical merits, we consider it important to leave without scoring but to include not belonging to institutions or organizations that put the independence and impartiality of the applicant at risk”he indicated.
Group 2, whose spokesperson was Luis Suárez, dean of the University of San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC), explained that they used the 2018 grading table as a basis and said that they see it as impractical to qualify a work plan.
“The person who takes office will do so with an Annual Operating Plan (POA) already approved for 2023 and with a four-year multi-year plan, which is why they will be extremely limited to a work plan that establishes radical changes, they already have a frame of reference of where to move to”he pointed.
The third group spoke through Gerson Tobar, dean of Da Vinci University, who assured that it is feasible to qualify psychometric tests, indicating that doing so is not delegating their constitutional responsibility.
“We believe that psychometric tests should be given weight, although they are instruments that a professional supports the Commission in giving the results, we are the ones who make the decision”highlighted the commissioner.
Finally Erick Leony, dean of the Francisco Marroquín University and spokesperson for the fourth group, was clear in saying that professional experience should have greater weight, and that it will be vital that the applicant has activities aimed at the position he intends to occupy.
“In activities carried out, we suggest that auditing and supervision be considered, something that is closely related to the activity that the Comptroller General of Accounts is going to lead,” commented.
tense day
For Carmen Aida Ibarra, director of the Pro Justice Movement, a tense fourth session was observed, since it gives her the impression that some commissioners seek to direct the grading table to benefit potential candidates.
The representative of the inspection organization analyzed the five points that generated discrepancies in the Postulator, indicating that it is essential that points are not being “given away”.
Prioritize experience: “It seems to me that professional merits are weighted more and academic merits less, because having master’s degrees or doctorates does not guarantee anything in relation to the suitability of the person. We have already seen that titles can be made of smoke”.
Reward the bachelor’s degree in accounting: “This would be equivalent to having to give them points for being Guatemalan, for being over 40 years old… this should not be weighted or included in the grading table, the idea is to take care that they are not given points.”
Grade psychometric tests: “Giving points or not to the interview and psychometric test is good to do both, only if in the case of the test the qualification that the experts give to the applicants is rebelled”.
Qualify interview and work plan: “They have not yet decided if the interview will be to stand in front of a camera and say what their work plans are, or if it will be a face-to-face interview where the commissioners can consult about their trajectory, plan or current opinions that interest the CGC.”
Ethical merits: “Ethics cannot be partially weighed; either you are ethical or you are not. Since 2010 on this issue, the commissions have not preferred to score, hopefully they will not score it because that part is still very subjective”.
The Commission agreed to continue with the preparation of the grading table this Thursday, when only two days would remain for the reception of files for future applicants to the CGC.
