The United Workers Party (UWP) members of the Public Accounts Committee have confirmed that a meeting of the PAC planned for Wednesday will go ahead.
The UWP parliamentarians on the committee say they want to open that meeting to the public, and one spokesman told Dominica News Online that the PAC guidelines suggest that such meetings should be held in public.
The party had earlier indicated that plans to have Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee hold a meeting in the public domain are being frustrated, mainly by Speaker of the House of Assembly Alix Boyd-Knights.
Reports indicated that efforts to hold such a first time meeting on Wednesday (June 6) were being frowned on by the Speaker.
However a UWP member of the committee told DNO that they did not need the permission of the Speaker to hold the meeting, and that what they had requested was the use of the gallery section of the parliament building to accommodate members of the public being able to attend the meeting.
Dominica News Online understands that Boyd-Knights is contending that the Public Accounts Committee does not have the right to hold such a meeting in public.
UWP leader Edison James, who is on the committee, says the idea of letting the public in on these deliberations is in the interest of greater transparency.
He said too that during the UWP boycott of parliament many people expressed concerns that the Public Accounts Committee was not able to meet and perform the kind of watchdog duty it is supposed to.
James said based on those concerns his party thought it wise to hold PAC meetings in public.
DNO’s been told that the Speaker is expected to address the matter on Wednesday.
The members of the Public Accounts Committee include Opposition leader Hector John, political leader of the United Workers Party Edison James, Deputy Speaker Ronald Toulon and Senator Tammy Jean Jacques.
Whenever the subject is about the disclosure and accoutability of Govermment transparency, supporters of the PM always seems to take a defensive posture on these issues.
ROSEAU VALLEY, Please take a look at Orders 69(1) 71(7).Could these provisions, properly construed, prohibit the publication of “the evidence taken before” the PAC before the PAC has presented its report to the House? Refer also to Order 87 which provides for the application of the usage and practice of the UK House of Commons wher not incosistent with the DA Standing Orders and practice of the House of Assembly.And see Order 86.We think that the solution lies with an amendment of the DA Orders.The PAC should be authorized to hold its sessions in public in accordance with Commonwealth best practice!
Furthemore ,while most Select Committtees in UK agree that they will “take evidence in public”,making exceptions “for evidence of a particularly sensitive nature”, they are not authorised by the House of Commons “to deliberate in public”.accessed :www.parliament.uk on 7/6/2012.
Thank you Sir /Madame, albeit none of that changes the quintessential point that I am making. However, in the spirit of continuous learning and in the embrace of new knowledge, I shall study the referenced documents. You see, Peeping, I actually enjoy such healthy debates and I truly appreciate your obvious intellect and passion. Keep it up. It is great. I wouldn’t criticize you because you are of a different political opinion. Wouldn’t it be great to have at least three (3) live, public, open debates between our political leaders during the next election season? I bet you would subscribe to this suggestion. You could be the moderator.
Love you fellow Dominica.
woyyyyyyyyyyy what’s wrong Ma Knight, you dont want us in YOUR yard??????? LOLOLOLOLOL mais ca se daybar…… your house that there man madam speaker??????????? I did not know
I remember I used to play in that old abandoned building when I was kid going to SMP…me and my buddies cleaned out an old upstairs area facing DBS and used to play dominoes and form the royal in there. I NEVER KNEW is MA KNIGHT that bought there and build HER parliament building there nuh!!!! well welll welll times do change… Dominique avec tout sot adi dan say sawwww madam????????? ebeh en ni pour courir con young bull
run run run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! neg maron head for the bush AGAIN!! escape masa estate…
is there* :correction:
They need permission to use the parliament and that permission must come from the speaker of the house, how hard is that for all you to understand?
Now my question is what is the motive behind the UWP sudden ‘need to make public view’ the PAC at work?
There is absolutely nothing to see its’ not like the public can put any questions to the committee, niether will the members of the committee be using PA system when asking questions of the Accounting Officers, so even if the public is invited there is absolutely nothing they will get from it so what’s really the point?
All of a sudden Eddo doing as if is yesterday these committees have been in existence and that when he was Prime Minister he used to urge the opposition to hold the meeting in public…smh
Roosie use to call him Prime Minister ‘PETTY’ that is a well suited name for him… “PETTY”!!!!
the greatest trait any leader can possess is HUMILITY….. because u will hardly find any one so CULTURED and GROOMED for the task that POWER will not CORRUPT and EXPLODE their EGO…..
why do you think the evil queen in snow white is portrayed as a POMPOUS, SELF CENTERED witch..
and the NOBLE QUEEN AND KING are always HUMBLE and ADORED by all??????????????????????????
I am not a supporter of either parties I am for truth and justice so why is it so difficult for folks like you to understand and accept the truth I wonder how do you discipline your children if you have any.
DNO: “He said too that during the UWP boycott of parliament many people expressed concerns that the Public Accounts Committee was not able to meet and perform the kind of watchdog duty it is supposed to.”
Now, this is a curious statement coming from the party that heads the PAC and is mandated to cal the meetings for the PAC. The UWPwee heads the PAC. You would think from reading this statement that someone or some entity was obstructing them form having meetings.
DNO, this is where you guys have to be pro-active. Ask the UWPwee how many times since 2000 have they held PAC meetings.
Now, as for the idea of holding the meeting to public view, it sounds like a fun idea but this reflex action by the UWPwee is showmanship. Let’s look at this…
1. Will the public have the opportunity to ask the members questions?
2. Will every and all matters before the PAC be opened up for public discussion and consumption, i.e will the PAC allow members of the public access to even matters considered “sensitive”?
3. What has motivated this sudden interest in having the meeting in the public?
4. What is the objective of the publicity?
The open display of information that really may not say much is not transparency. It is called predation…fooling the people into believing that the proceeding is transparent but in effect, the people would still not know the stories behind the information released or topics discussed. Unless, of course, the PAC intends to conduct a full inquiry in public, the meetings are not likely to amount to much.
The fact is, Dominica is not ready for such manifestation of democracy, especially not in the present political climate. The nation has been subjected to a calculated campaign of destabilization by a loud minority. The population is therefore split along fiery hot political lines. I do not see how this mockery of the political process that the UWPwee has concocted will benefit THE PEOPLE.
Frankly, as we will see, this scheme by the UWPwee much as their cries for the IPO) is just another political tactic to prey on the gullible, the ignorant (in the first sense of the word, i.e unaware), and the uneducated.
what a tounge twister. I thought a snake was the only creature who could dislocate its jaw?? in any case none of us can stop the “information revolution” as this is the era in which we live. freedom of information anyone?? I’m sure you have heard of it, being “learned” as you are. it is our very nature which will propel us toward what we envision, just as industry propelled us through the industrial age, so to information will propel us in the direction right direction…..
while we have to admit that there are those who do not know, and couldn’t care less what it is to make an “informed decision” we trust that there are many more who are calculative in their thinking. just as you are.
Alix must understand that power and prestige gained through political affiliation only last as long as those who have give it stays in control. Ultimate power comes from the majority of the people and every rope has an end.
Too many chiefs and too few workers. Every body wants to feel important in little Dominica,and have the last word. Thanks God the rest of the world is watching and not amused by those little things.
Thank you Mr. James and the UWP for demonstrating leadership in this matter.
Readers to this website would recall that ROSEAU VALLEY was one of those who joined Angelo, Blessings and others in calling for the return of the UWP to parliament. At that time, the argument was that the opposition needs to engage the government and represent the people who elected them in parliament, notwithstanding the 18-3 defeat in the last elections. UWP demonstrated a sense of maturity, sensitivity and professionalism and responded at its national convention. They returned to Parliament.
Readers would also recall that in calling for the return of the UWP to parliament, ROSEAU VALLY invited the Speaker to be more even-handed, professional, fair and objective in her dealings with the opposition in order to encourage healthy debate and to create an environment that is conducive to productivity in the House. That did not happen. Is not happening and it appears cannot happen until according to the calypso-we fix the worse speaker we ever had in the House. Those of who live with the Speaker in the ROSEAU VALLEY are well aware that she is not known to be someone who cooperates in promoting public/community activity.
With regard to this current impasse, however, ROSEAU VALLEY does not understand what the Speaker’s problem may be on this matter. ROSEAU VALLEY is at a lost as to what provision of the rules of the House prohibits holding public meeting. The Speaker is welcome to say so publicly.
ROSEAU VALLEY continues to be baffled by the gross abuse of authority by this Speaker and the fact that the PM and the Labour party do not seem to be concerned of the negative impact of the Speaker’s disposition is and will continue to have on the image of the party. But that will be to their detriment. To those who were preaching good, accountable and transparent governance while the Freedom party and UWI were in office, I questioned their loud silence and loyalty to truth, justice, accountability, transparency and love for country.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the move by the opposition to hold public hearings of the PUBLIC Accounts Committee is one in the right direction. It will foster health debate in our fledgling, dying democratic society. What do we have to hide?
But since we like to refer to international best practices and some of us would like to remain with the Privy Council, abiding ,- as it were – by the laws and practices in England, then great! Please see the following website and learn of the work of the English Public Accounts Committee.http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-archive/committee-of-public-accounts;
Please note: “The Committee’s meetings are open to the public. The Committee meets on Mondays at 4.30 pm and on Wednesdays at 3.30 pm, usually in Room 15 or 16, on the first floor Committee Corridor, Palace of Westminster. Access for members of the public is via St Stephen’s Entrance where they will have to clear security checks, make their way through Central Lobby and up to the Committee corridor. When the Committee is being televised the following link will enable you to watch proceedings in real time. You will also be able to view previous Sessions by clicking on the archive tab. http://www.parliamentlive.tv/
Tell them Rodney. Can’t all learn to live together and grow up!
ROSEAU VALLEY, the problem with your logic in referring to the UK context is that you have blatantly ignored that Dominica is far form being like England or any other advanced democratic society. You are therefore, comparing apples and oranges and consequently, you arrive at a distorted conclusion that what works in England will logically work in Dominica, today.
Surely, do you expect us to buy into this logic? Offer a better justification for this reflex action by the UWPwee.
Normally, I would resist the temptation to respond to such a comment. However, in the interest of keeping the health debate alive, I shall simply express my disappointment that Peeping Tom and others like him/her would not engage in more peeping into what is considered as international best practice with regard to the conduct of the affairs of such Public Accounts Committees. My argument is not that we should do as England does in everything. It simply suggests that such public debates on matters of national importance are encouraged in all mature, modern, educated, progressive democratic societies. Why not in Dominica?
Is Peeping Tom advancing the rationale of Mr. Timothy that we are too backward, small and poor in Dominica to embrace the principles of integrity, transparency and good accountable government?
Are you saying that we are too illiterate and underdeveloped as a people in a small Island developing state to do like they do in the US, Australia, England, Korea, Singapore and elsewhere? I do not believe you are advocating this unintelligent argument.
In any event, I wish to thank you for the demonstration of courage in documenting your comments rather than simply giving me a thumb’s down. I respect your right to do so and it makes me happy that you have taken the time to read my lengthy contribution. Thank you and let’s keep the respectable debate alive for the good of Dominica.
With love as a fellow Dominican who cares deeply about our country.
WOW……..There is a BOULDER in the ROSEAU VALLEY and I doubt it can be moved………..I will be looking forward to seeing more of your contributions fellow countryman/woman
this simple little paragraph from you speaks volumes to me and resonates hope for our little paradise.
ROSEAU VALLEY: ” My argument is not that we should do as England does in everything. It simply suggests that such public debates on matters of national importance are encouraged in all mature, modern, educated, progressive democratic societies. Why not in Dominica?”
You confirm my argument, ROSEAU VALLEY. News flash…Dominica is NOT a “mature, modern, educated, progressive democratic society” by any measure of these concepts. You, you know that. Hence, any suggestion that such societies do X and therefore, Dominica (society Y) should do likewise is illogical, to say the least. Instead, look at the current climate and current priorities and work within this framework to move forward. Any other tactic or strategy will be revealed for what it is.
Again, you have proven the weak basis for the UWPwee’s suggested spectacle. Come again, ROSEAU VALLEY!
I understand, however, why the UWPwee would want such a charade…Attention catching and legitimacy, i.e remain relevant. I can almost bet that in the yeas to come, they will be reminding us that they had a PAC meeting in 2012 where they took the “matters of the people” public.
Alix and them must realize that everything is for a time, it’s really dumb if they have not yet come to this realization.
There is the tendency for decision-makers and others to want to do their own thing without regard to statutory requirements.The talk shows provide ample testimony of this tendency.Parliament is governed by Standing Orders made by the House of Assembly in 1986.Do the Orders provide,expressly or impliedly, for the proceedings of the PAC to be held in public? If not the Opposition should seek an amendment to the Rules to so provide.In a number of Commonwealth countries,including the United Kingdom parliament, the meetings of many Select Committees,including the PAC, are held in public.Good and transparent governance also requDominica should adopt Commonwealth best practices.
Femme Daba
***JUST WONDERING**
I really don’t understand what the speaker has to do with this!! Can someone please inform me accordingly?
-Thanks!
Let me clarify something…….
I’ve asked anyone who is well versed in these procedure to tell me why the speaker of the house is venting her frustration about such a meeting. According to her PAC does not have the right to hold such a meeting in public. Other reading has indicated the following;
“PAC guidelines suggest that such meetings should be held in public”.
My question was simple; why is the speaker having a problem with this?? So far I have gotten 3 dislikes and no comments. That’s really sad that one cannot ask a simple questions without people getting annoyed!
-Thanks again
debat she like
Not more than you all UWPWEE **LES!