Minister Teixeira misrepresented happenings in the PAC

Oct 21, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

I take this opportunity to respond to the senior Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Gail Teixeira, member of the Public Accounts Committee of Guyana. The Hon. Member who was on the national and social media platform on Monday October 18, 2021, gave “her version” on matters of the PAC, which was grossly inaccurate with a deliberate intent to mislead and deceive the audience.
It must be made abundantly clear that the PAC is made up of government and opposition members who do not always agree on matters of importance. What was agreed upon by both sides and the wider public however, is that the work of the PAC is lagging too far behind, and much work has to be done to get it up to date. The general public should be aware, that the Public Accounts Committee is presently looking at 2016 accounts in the year 2021; five years ago work. In light of this glaring reality and the continued readiness of members on the opposition side of the PAC to get the work done, a motion was put. On Monday 11th of October 2021 at the PAC’s meeting, member Ganesh Mahipaul properly put a motion for the PAC to meet two times a week, on Monday which is the statutory day, and the other being Friday, to get much needed work done. Members on “both sides” spoke to the motion and it was put and successfully passed.
On the morning of Monday18th October 2021, members were made aware that member Teixeira brought a motion to rescind the motion to have two meetings a week of the PAC. Discussions on her motion were entertained, there were opposing views on which one of the identified standing order, took precedence. Having experienced what transpired earlier in the year with the removal of Mr. Patterson, where both sides had opposing views on a motion of which guidance was sought by the Clerk of the National Assembly and an independent Lawyer, I indicated to members that I have no difficulty in putting the motion, but I required some time to consult before the motion is put and voted on.
I proposed to the committee to allow me to seek advice on the motion and that we will entertain it on Monday 25th October, 2021, which is the statutory meeting time of the PAC, and it was unanimously agreed to and accepted by all. Editor, it must be made very pellucid, that member Mahipaul’s motion was not rescinded and the decision to hold two meetings a week was still in effect, hence the decision to have the meeting on Friday 22nd October, 2021.
Ms. Teixeira’s discombobulated and emotionally expressed views on the state and social media platforms, have grossly misrepresented the truthful and accurate happenings of the PAC on Monday 18th October 2021.
The Hon. Teixeira indicated that I requested that the live feed of the PAC be taken off was true; however, that decision was made in relation to an agreed position of the PAC, which got unanimous support to only allow media/cameras in the proceedings when examining agencies. When the live feed came off and the media was asked to leave, the committee was no longer examining an agency. The committee was addressing any other business, then the planning of the agenda for the next meeting ensued.
Ms. Teixeira, on the state media, deliberately tried to give the impression to her audience that I apparently wanted to evade the public before the decision to hold a meeting of the PAC on Fridays, leaves much to be desired. That was blatantly deceptive, and it was an abuse of the state media. Her reference about puppet, someone’s clone and being his own man are comments that need to be redirected to her PPP barn-yard. Additionally, Editor, the Hon. Member’s comments about having a “déjà vu” moment is not rooted in memory that is clothed with a truthful, factual account of what transpired at Monday’s meeting and I challenge the member to provide evidence where I was in breach of the standing order. The PPP wants to hoodwink and bamboozle the people that they are for good governance and accountability when they are not. That is being duplicitous and shows a lack of integrity and no one should trust them.
This regime wants someone who will beckon to their whims and fancies, one who slavishly carries out their requests without question. I see no such person on the opposition side in the PAC and moreover, this man will be no one’s stooge. I will always serve the people of Guyana without fear or favour, affection or ill will in the execution of my responsibility, so help me God.

Yours respectfully,
Jermaine Figueira MP
Chairman of PAC

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Minister Teixeira misrepresented happenings in the PAC

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