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APNU pushes PAC quorum reform to end ‘deliberate’ absenteeism
…says oversight committee should not be paralysed by no-shows
(Kaieteur News) – The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is calling for urgent reform of the quorum rules governing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), noting that deliberate absenteeism is undermining parliament’s ability to hold government accountable.
Member of Parliament Juretha Fernandes said the current arrangements have allowed sittings of the committee to be stalled when members fail to attend, weakening one of parliament’s key oversight bodies.
APNU Member of Parliament, Juretha Fernandes
Fernandes recalled that the issue dates back to April 13, 2022, when changes were made to the quorum requirements in the National Assembly. She noted that at the time, the then opposition APNU/AFC had protested the amendment, both inside and outside the House, warning that it could be used to obstruct the committee’s work.
“Today we are reaping the negative consequences of that silence on the change in the requirements for a quorum of the PAC, the lack of transparency and accountability and the wanton waste of taxpayers’ money through corruption and incompetence,” she stated.
She continued, “The A Partnership for National Unity Coalition calls on all right-thinking Guyanese to recognise and resist one of the most serious attacks on parliamentary accountability in our country today: the deliberate weakening and stymying of the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly,” she said.
According to the MP, Article 223 of the Constitution guarantees the independence of the Auditor General and requires that the nation’s public accounts be independently audited.
“The Public Accounts Committee is not a ceremonial body. It is one of Parliament’s most important democratic institutions to safeguard the use of taxpayers’ money. Its duty is to examine the audited accounts presented by the Auditor General, scrutinise the use of public funds, exercise oversight in relation to the Auditor General’s work, and play the role of ensuring accountability in the Public Procurement Commission process,” MP Fernandes stressed.
Under the current standing order arrangement, she said, the PAC now requires five members for a quorum, two from government, two from the opposition, and the chairperson. This, she noted, has created a situation where government’s absence can prevent the committee from meeting.
“The effect is clear. By refusing or not attending PAC meetings, government members can now prevent the committee from meeting. This gives the very government whose spending must be scrutinised an effective veto over when, whether, and how quickly that examination takes place. As a result, the government spending for 2020 to 2024 has not yet been examined. This is not accountability. This is obstruction and the facilitation of incompetence, the waste of taxpayers’ money, and corruption,” she lamented.
Fernandes stated that although the Chairman of the PAC has made efforts to convene meetings to continue examining the Auditor General’s reports, meetings have had to be cancelled because government members were absent and a quorum could not be achieved.
She said the coalition is therefore calling for: immediate and consistent convening of PAC meetings, full attendance by government members at properly scheduled sittings, a fast-tracked plan to clear the backlog of Auditor General’s reports, urgent reform of the quorum rules to prevent paralysis through absenteeism.
The party also urged citizens, civil society organisations, unions, faith leaders, and professional bodies to demand stronger parliamentary accountability.
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