The Government has successfully piloted a motion through the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to have the Reports of the Auditor General for the years 2020 to 2024 examined simultaneously to reduce the five-year backlog.

The motion was tabled by the Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill when a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was held at the Public Buildings today.

The proposal was previously made by A Partnership for National Unity.

APNU members of the PAC had previously argued that examining the reports side by side would allow the Committee to review multiple years simultaneously, saving time and resources.

APNU Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul told News Source that the move will significantly reduce the time used to examine the reports and address concerns regarding statutes of limitation that could hinder accountability for older expenditures.

The PAC is still concluding its work on the 2019 Report. It therefore means that it has never examined the accounts of the Irfaan Ali Administration.

MP Mahipaul said it is therefore important for the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 reports to be examined simultaneously to fast track the work of the Committee. He stressed that the committee must be able to scrutinize the findings, and seek answers from those holding public offices.

 APNU MP Juretha Fernandes said the method allows for a thorough examination. However, she was keen on noting that in the past, it did not garner the support of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

“The proposal, however, had previously faced resistance from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). When a similar side-by-side examination was proposed in 2022 for the 2019 and 2020 reports, government members objected. Despite the PPP’s prior opposition, the PAC has now agreed to proceed with the side-by-side examination of the 2020–2024 reports,” MP Fernandes said.

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