The Alliance For Change, will be calling for a review of the June 25, 2012 decision of the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly that relates to the appointment of Audit Directors.
The AFC’s move is based on two factors; the highly unethical nature of one of the appointments and flawed voting based on ill advice.
i. Unethical nature of one appointment
The Audit Office serves as a ‘check and balance’ mechanism to ensure that public monies are properly accounted for and that all transactions regarding public funds are above board. The Finance Ministry and NICIL are agencies of the state that disburse public funds. It therefore makes good sense that the relationship between the Audit Office and the other two be seen as independent. Not only must they operate independently but to satisfy public scrutiny, they must also appear to be operating independently.
ii. Flawed voting
The Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly is established under Standing Order 80. Rule 5 of Standing Order 80 clearly states, “Unless otherwise provided for in these Standing Orders, any member of the Assembly, whether elected on non-elected, shall be eligible for membership of any Standing Committee and shall have the right to vote therein.” We see here that all members of the PAC up to this point in time are entitled to vote on matters brought before the Committee. The Chairman of the Committee therefore, as a member of the said Committee is entitled to an original vote. This is clearly the intention of the Parliament when it established and approved the Standing Orders.
In light of the above, the AFC believes that the outcome of the PAC meeting on June 25 is flawed. It is clear that the Chairman of the PAC, Hon Carl Greenidge of A Partnership for National Unity was ill-informed of his right as a member.
This also has implications for the other Standing Committees of the National Assembly as it established flawed precedent. It is therefore imperative that all measures be taken by the collective Parliament, not only the AFC or the opposition, to have this corrected. The AFC will be raising this matter at the Standing Orders Committee.
In the meantime, the AFC leadership has met with MP Trevor Williams to again impress upon him and all MPs the critical positions they hold and the trust placed upon them by the people of Guyana.
We remain confident that Mr. Williams will continue to represent the AFC and the people of Guyana and that he will continue to develop as a parliamentarian.
The AFC wishes to assure the nation that every effort will be taken to ensure that this situation does not recur.
MP Williams’ absence notwithstanding, the AFC regrets that the forced appointments were not prevented by more prudent and reasoned action on the part of the Chairman of the PAC. [END]
(Moses Nagamootoo)
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