Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Nov 04/05) - Patricia Bertrand carefully kept track of all the criticism directed towards her husband Floyd Bertrand while he was chief of the Acho Dene Koe First Nation.

Now, more than three months since Floyd's election loss to Harry Deneron, Patricia is asking what changes, if any, her husband's detractors have made.

Some band members were outraged in January, 2004, when Floyd was approved for a $20,000 raise.

That increased his salary to $90,000. During the election campaign in June, Deneron said residents of Fort Liard would expect the chief's salary to be clawed back. Has Deneron reduced his pay, Bertrand asked.

No, not yet, Deneron told The Drum. He said he and his band council have been too busy "putting out fires" from the previous administration to address the issue of the chief's salary.

Another demand made while Floyd was Acho Dene Koe leader was for directors of the Beaver Enterprises board to be elected.

Instead, Deneron has made appointments to the board, many from his own band council, Patricia pointed out.

Deneron replied that the appointments are only temporary.

He said Shane Parrish is serving as president of the board while Jim Duntra is vice-president, but only until December when elections will be held.

Those with the most votes will sit on the Acho Dene Koe Investment Group's board. Separate boards, open to nominations from within the community, will exist for the camps and catering division and Beaver Construction Ltd., Deneron explained.

On another front, Patricia is also concerned with the fate of a forensic audit that Floyd initiated. The band spent upwards of $30,000 having several years of financial records - including those from Deneron's last term - scrutinized by the firm Deloitte and Touche.

The final report should be released to band members, she maintained.

Deneron reiterated that he believes the forensic audit was launched and preliminary findings were made public prior to the band election in an attempt to make him look bad.

"These guys (the previous administration) didn't know business at all, not at all," Deneron said. "Instead they were just pointing the finger at me."

Nevertheless, he said the document will be made public when it's finished.

He noted, however, that his lawyer has requested the final audit report but has yet to receive it.

Finally, Patricia stated that people related to or connected with Floyd are being denied jobs by the band and its companies.

Deneron said that isn't true.

"I'm not like that. I don't do that," he said. "They're welcome to work anywhere."