The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly continues to find it challenging to get some former Public Officers to appear before the Committee to account for their spending of government funds under their watch.  

The Committee has announced that it is now in the process of drafting legislation that it hopes will be presented to the National Assembly, to empower the Public Accounts Committee to summon delinquent officers who need to appear before the Committee.

Former Regional Executive Officer of Region No. 5, Ovid Morrison, continues to be a hot topic at the PAC for not showing up at the PAC.

But the Committee has acknowledged that he is not the only one who has not been showing up.

But even as the PAC explore ways to have former officers show up, Opposition Member on the PAC, Juretha Fernandes, reminded that the PAC does not have the power to summon anyone to appear before it.

“So, as it is right now, we cannot operate as though the PAC has any power to summon because we do not. So, we need to expedite that process to be passed in the National Assembly, so that we can take these courses, but as it is right now, we have to work with the system that we are faced with. And it must be recalled that this is not the first, second or third time we don’t have the persons showing up,” MP Fernandes stated.

She said the Committee’s work must not be hampered because an accounting officer has failed to show up.

However, Government Member on the PAC, Minister of Works Bishop Juan Edghill, shared a different view. For him, all options available to the PAC must be explored to get persons to answer for their spending while they occupied public offices.

“So, you don’t be an accounting officer, spend government’s money, then you disappear before the time of the estimates, or examination of the Auditor General account and you just can’t be available because you are out of the country, or you are not available or you have another job. At the time of your appointment, you are fully aware, that you have to account for your stewardship,” Ms. Edghill said.

Opposition Member of the Committee, David Patterson noted that the PAC does not meet as often as it should and therefore when the PAC meets, those meetings would not coincide with the schedule of the same persons who should be appearing.

Opposition Committee Member, Ghanesh Mahipaul said the PAC’s work should not be stymied by the absence of accounting officers. He also made reference to the legislation which will give the PAC additional powers to ensure that every accounting officer has their day to be scrutinized.

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