Guyana: PAC Chairman and APNU Criticize Government’s Inaction on Meetings

The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Vishnu Panday, along with Ganesh Mahipaul from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has raised concerns regarding the government’s refusal to ensure PAC meetings occur. They argue that this refusal undermines efforts to scrutinize government spending.

Mr. Mahipaul stated that the government’s repeated absence from PAC meetings has resulted in a lack of quorum, which he believes is a direct consequence of changes made by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) in April 2021. He noted that these changes were intended to give the government control over the scheduling of PAC meetings, thereby affecting the committee’s oversight capabilities.

Mr. Mahipaul expressed that the situation reflects the warnings he had previously issued regarding the implications of the quorum amendment. He emphasized that the current circumstances validate his concerns from 2021.

In his statement, Mr. Panday highlighted that the government’s reluctance to engage with the PAC raises questions about governance and accountability. He pointed out that public concerns about corruption among government officials are becoming more pronounced.

Mr. Mahipaul acknowledged Mr. Panday’s efforts to convene a PAC meeting to review outstanding Auditor General reports. He noted that all procedural requirements were met, including issuing a notice more than three working days in advance. However, on the day of the scheduled meeting, government members withdrew, resulting in a loss of quorum.

Despite attempts to reschedule the meeting on various days, the government declined all proposed dates. Mr. Mahipaul remarked that the ongoing pattern of obstruction is concerning, suggesting that a government confident in its management of public funds would support the PAC’s work rather than hinder it.

He asserted that the citizens of Guyana deserve transparency and accountability from their government. Mr. Panday added that the previous PAC was only able to address accountability issues up to 2018, leading to a significant backlog due to the cancellation of meetings, primarily because of government member unavailability.

In light of these challenges, Mr. Panday urged government committee members to fulfill their obligations to the citizens and participate in PAC meetings to ensure efficient and transparent governance.

Source: demerarawaves.com