APNU wants PAC to probe constitutional agencies' audited accounts

APNU wants PAC to probe constitutional agencies’ audited accounts

Jul 12, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is seeking to have the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) examine the audited accounts of constitutional agencies.

In a statement on Saturday, PAC member and APNU Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul said: “For reasons unknown to us, the PAC has never examined audited reports and statements of Constitutional Agencies and several Statutory Bodies. We will be seeking to request of the committee to begin to examine the reports of those agencies in keeping with its mandate, which is to examine the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by the Assembly to meet public expenditure, and such other accounts laid before the Assembly as the Assembly may refer to the committee, together with the Auditor General’s report thereon, in keeping with Standing Order 82(1).”

APNU wants PAC to probe constitutional agencies' audited accounts

PAC Member and Member of Parliament for APNU Ganesh Mahipaul

He revealed that the PAC is expected to convene its second meeting tomorrow at the Parliament Building, after several failed attempts to do so. The meeting will be held behind closed doors, as it is intended to address procedural and administrative matters necessary for the effective functioning of the committee. These include the continuation of work left unfinished by the PAC of the 12th Parliament, the adoption of a work programme, and the scheduling of meetings for the years ahead.

“The APNU members of the Public Accounts Committee will be advancing several proposals aimed at strengthening parliamentary oversight and improving the efficiency of the committee’s work. Foremost among these is a proposal that the PAC meets weekly. The committee currently faces a significant backlog, and we believe weekly meetings are both necessary and practical if we are to discharge our constitutional responsibility in a timely manner. We anticipate that our colleagues from We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) will support this proposal,” Mahipaul said.

He noted that while opposition members remain hopeful that government members will lend their support, they are not overly optimistic, given that the reports before the committee cover years during which the current administration governed the country, and it has not demonstrated a strong commitment to robust accountability, transparency, and good governance.

Noting that three paragraphs remain to be completed from the 2019 Auditor General’s Report, Mahipaul highlighted the urgent need for a more aggressive meeting schedule. APNU will also propose that the 2020, 2021, and 2022 Auditor General’s Reports be examined concurrently, an approach he said would significantly accelerate the committee’s work while reducing the burden on Accounting Officers, who would otherwise be required to appear repeatedly before the committee on similar matters. Since many audit findings recur over successive years, he said, considering the reports together would allow for more comprehensive examination and more effective recommendations.

APNU will also advocate for the immediate commencement of the process to constitute the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). Mahipaul said a clear framework exists for the process, including inviting applications from suitably qualified persons, shortlisting applicants, and recommending five nominees to the House for approval and appointment.

“Guyana deserves a fully constituted and functioning Public Procurement Commission, and we trust that all members of the committee and the National Assembly will support this important objective,” he added.

Mahipaul reminded that the PAC is one of the National Assembly’s most important oversight mechanisms, and said APNU is committed to ensuring that it functions independently, effectively, and in the best interest of Guyana’s citizens.

“Our focus will remain on promoting accountability, transparency, and sound stewardship of public resources,” he said.

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