Formation Of Public Accounts Committee In The Making
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is a major watch dog body within the House of Assembly is expected to be finally constituted.
The Motion to form the Committee was placed on the Order Paper for today's sitting, November 14 and takes away the need for the Opposition to take a stance on the matter, which the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Marlon Penn hinted might have occurred. However, considering that the Order Paper is packed and the PAC Motion is the last item it is not certain that the body would be constituted today.
Most of the other select committees of the House of Assembly have been formed and the Opposition was becoming concerned that there was still no PAC.
This concern was mentioned to the media during a press conference by the Opposition Members on November 13.
"The reality is that if it is not done tomorrow (November 14) it is very unlikely that it would not be done before 2020. That would mean ten months or a year before we have a functioning Public Accounts Committee. We have done all of the things we needed to do in terms of the changes to the Standing Orders,” Hon. Penn stated.
He explained that part of the delay was the fact that Government only had one eligible member for the PAC. However, he said that the Opposition cooperated in the sorting of that conundrum.
“We’ve done all the things that we needed to do. We have written to the Premier on the urgency and our concern regarding this Committee not functioning. It is our intent that they would do as they said they would,” Hon. Penn stated.
The Leader of the Opposition said that he has been making representation to have the PAC formed for months but nothing was done before.
“We have been pushing the current administration to ensure that the Public Accounts Committeebe established for the last eight months. This very important institution of the House of Assembly must function in order to provide the necessary checks and balances for the executive; so that we can uphold the tenants of accountability, transparency, and good governance that a democracy requires,” Hon. Penn outlined.
He further explained that he wrote to the Premier last week to enquire about the PAC and up to November 12, he said that he had not seen the PAC formation mentioned on the Order of the Day which he was told would be amended.
“After a letter from myself to the Premier and other members Friday 8 November imploring that the PAC be established -- two subsequent versions of the Order Paper was submitted to members, the formation of the Public Accounts Committee was still not on the Order Paper of the Day. In a miraculous turn of fortune I was told yesterday (November 12) that the Order Paper would be further amended and it would be put on the Order Paper for tomorrow’s sitting. I wonder if this press conference had anything to do with that. I guess we will wait and see if the amended order paper has the resolution included,”: Hon. Penn said.
Meanwhile the final version of the Order of the Day was released hours after the Opposition held its press conference and contained the Motion to form the PAC. The document noted that Premier Hon. Andrew Fahie will be moving a Motion to form the PAC which Leader of the Opposition Hon. Penn will Chair. It was also mentioned that Hon. Julian Fraser, Hon. Neville Smith and Hon. Melvin Turnbull will be the members.
The functions of the PAC are to consider, report and make proposals on matters relating to public accounts.
Most of the other select committees of the House of Assembly have been formed and the Opposition was becoming concerned that there was still no PAC.
This concern was mentioned to the media during a press conference by the Opposition Members on November 13.
"The reality is that if it is not done tomorrow (November 14) it is very unlikely that it would not be done before 2020. That would mean ten months or a year before we have a functioning Public Accounts Committee. We have done all of the things we needed to do in terms of the changes to the Standing Orders,” Hon. Penn stated.
He explained that part of the delay was the fact that Government only had one eligible member for the PAC. However, he said that the Opposition cooperated in the sorting of that conundrum.
“We’ve done all the things that we needed to do. We have written to the Premier on the urgency and our concern regarding this Committee not functioning. It is our intent that they would do as they said they would,” Hon. Penn stated.
The Leader of the Opposition said that he has been making representation to have the PAC formed for months but nothing was done before.
“We have been pushing the current administration to ensure that the Public Accounts Committeebe established for the last eight months. This very important institution of the House of Assembly must function in order to provide the necessary checks and balances for the executive; so that we can uphold the tenants of accountability, transparency, and good governance that a democracy requires,” Hon. Penn outlined.
He further explained that he wrote to the Premier last week to enquire about the PAC and up to November 12, he said that he had not seen the PAC formation mentioned on the Order of the Day which he was told would be amended.
“After a letter from myself to the Premier and other members Friday 8 November imploring that the PAC be established -- two subsequent versions of the Order Paper was submitted to members, the formation of the Public Accounts Committee was still not on the Order Paper of the Day. In a miraculous turn of fortune I was told yesterday (November 12) that the Order Paper would be further amended and it would be put on the Order Paper for tomorrow’s sitting. I wonder if this press conference had anything to do with that. I guess we will wait and see if the amended order paper has the resolution included,”: Hon. Penn said.
Meanwhile the final version of the Order of the Day was released hours after the Opposition held its press conference and contained the Motion to form the PAC. The document noted that Premier Hon. Andrew Fahie will be moving a Motion to form the PAC which Leader of the Opposition Hon. Penn will Chair. It was also mentioned that Hon. Julian Fraser, Hon. Neville Smith and Hon. Melvin Turnbull will be the members.
The functions of the PAC are to consider, report and make proposals on matters relating to public accounts.
