PAC inactivity blamed on opposition

Boyd-Knights said the UWP has not been nominating members to house committees
Boyd-Knights said the UWP has not been nominating members to house committees

The opposition United Workers Party (UWP) is being squarely blamed for the inactivity of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Speaker of the House, Alix Boyd-Knights, said the UWP has not nominated members to various house committees, including the PAC.

“As to the Public Accounts Committee and I want to impress upon the members of the opposition again that the government side has in fact nominated their members to the various committees,” she said. “It only remains for the opposition side to nominate their members to these committees.”

She said for that is the reason, “we have no Public Accounts Committee.”

“So they really hold sway in that committee and the opposition has named no members to that committee,” she said.

Leader of the Opposition, Hector John is Chairperson of the PAC.

Boyd-Knight also mentioned that the PAC remains alive, since the government has nominated two members, as required.

On January 30th 2014, Director of Audit, Clarence Christian blamed the absence of a functioning PAC for “discrepancy” in the travel expenditure of prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit.

“If we had a functional PAC, all this information could have been made known to the public,” he said. “The PAC has not been functioning, and they are the watch dog that should look at the accounts of government … they have the power to call any accounting officer to explain to them certain matters.”

He said to his knowledge the last time the PAC met was in 2008.

But John told DNO that the last PAC meeting was held after the last national budget in July, 2013.

However, he said, although the PAC has been asking a lot questions, information from the government has not been forthcoming.

“That is one of the reasons why we saw it as a waste of time to have a PAC,” he said.

 

 

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64 Comments

  1. Barbara
    March 20, 2014

    I don’t support any party. When DLP does well I applaud, when bad as say so. I also do the same for UWP. Both parties do good and bad. Looking from a distance – it appears that the government runs things and no one else has a say. However, that should not stop the UWP from doing their due diligence. Do what is required of you. Humpty Dumpty won’t sit on the wall forever. His will have a great fall.

  2. da
    March 20, 2014

    This is just childish, i am no fan of the labour party, but if you are required to nominate members, then why not do it, stop this pulling and tugging man, childish politics, then again this barbaric regime in power must give the people the information they need, if every time we meet we ask for information and we not getting, then why meet then.

    • The Baptiste
      March 20, 2014

      da, it is the PM who appoints the members, besides what is the point of the committee, if its report can only be brought to the parliament by the PM? Furthermore, the government members do not turn up for the meetings, and when they do, the committees’ questions are not answered by the public servants to whom the questions are directed. By the way have you noticed that since this administration came to office there has been no report by the committee> Have you asked why? Or inquired of the leader of the house why?
      Every other administration since the inception of that committee has produced reports, the committee has functioned under every administration up until 2000, when this administration came to power, and the current opposition had been in opposition during some of those times, prior to 000, so think about it. Just the undermining, and dismantling of another institution of our democracy.

  3. The Baptiste
    March 20, 2014

    I would have liked to see DNO explain to its readers what exactly is the PAC, what is its role and responsibilities, in other words how does this institution function?
    Since what passes for media in Dominica including DNO either lacks the ability to do so or just plain lazy, I will attempt to give a glimpse into this supposedly important institution, which in my view can be compared to a toothless bull dog.
    Even more disturbing, is to read the comment of Clarence Christian, the director of audit and self-proclaimed a creature of the constitution, but I will address this later, since among the persons who must appear before the PAC by reason of his function is Mr. Christian, who the last time he appeared before the PAC refused to answer questions put to him, but now he comes as a politician, attempting to blame the opposition for the inactivity of the PAC.
    His refusal to answer questions can be equated to obstructing the work of the institution.
    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is a sub-committee of the parliament charged with the responsibility of overseeing the government’s expenditures. The person responsible for this body, believe it or not is the leader of the house, who by the way is the prime minister.
    The unusual thing about this body it is comprised of an even number of members, comprised of 2 government members, and two opposition members, the practice obtained over the years is that the leader of the opposition normally chairs the committee, however, any report developed by the committee can only be brought to the parliament by the leader of the house, who I just told you is the prime minister.
    I am not aware of what constitutes a quorum, and how a tied vote is broken. This committee has limited powers and authority. This I would ascribe either to the inexperience of the framers of the constitution, or the confidence in the good faith that was traditionally obtained by government and opposition in the past. My latter conclusion is based on historical experience post 2000, when the DLP came to power, seeing that every opposition prior to 2000, of which the current opposition UWP was part of no report has come from this body.
    I am aware of several attempts to convene meetings, some of which started, with government officials refusing to answer questions.
    Of course the absence of sanctions, and/or the absence of subpoena powers, that would hold public servants accountable for such actions are a major factor in the recent obstructionist attitude of this DLP administration. Do not take my word for any of this do a little research, if memories may not be that sharp
    Please tell me why is it that there has been no report from the PAC since this DLP government came to office in 2000?

    • Bogoroy
      March 20, 2014

      “I am aware of several attempts to convene meetings, some of which started, with government officials refusing to answer questions.”

      Lol! Name ONE meeting of the PAC at which “government officials” refused to answer questions. ONE! I aussur, if there were ever such a meeting, Q95, DNO, and all the other media used by the UWP would have jumped on the opportunity and would never let the world forget.

      Liar! You don’t change, huh?

      • Razor
        March 20, 2014

        The Baptiste: “The person responsible for this body, believe it or not is the leader of the house, who by the way is the prime minister.”

        Lol! You really have no clue, garsan. Look makakwee!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

      • The Baptiste
        March 20, 2014

        Bogoroy, You so knowledgeable, why not use your own name instead of giving the impression that you are someone else.
        Ask the Director of Audit to begin with, and then the minister of finance, after that assignment come back and I will give you more, and by names this time, not by position title.
        Of all the people in the world, you should be the last to call anyone a liar, because if lying was strength, you would be stronger than Sampson and Superman combined.

  4. FORKIT
    March 20, 2014

    charley jong for PRIME MINISTER

  5. Emile Zapatos
    March 20, 2014

    Sunshine City Girl, The PM gave us the same water that he drank. Clear clean water from the country.
    Progressive water that the DLP have been distributing from day one. Not the dirty and hateful water that the Green eyes and dark blue faces are puking

  6. ()
    March 19, 2014

    The old speaker rack a tak tak. Stifling the opposition. That will soon come to pass.

  7. native son
    March 19, 2014

    1 and 1 equals 2 no accountability of the public purse.your hospital will be short of equipment, your police will be under pay, and evert sector will be in trouble including your venerable children start to love yourself and not politician

  8. native son
    March 19, 2014

    1 plus 1 equal 2,no accountability of the public purse you hospital have no facility,you police will be under pay equals corruption SIMPLE you people love not your selves put ministers of Government.

  9. The Times
    March 19, 2014

    I have heard many a concern of the opposition be thrown out by the speaker when questions are asked. I have also seen many occasions where the opposition had to be consulted on major issues and they weren’t but these processes were still executed i.e Presidential Elections and the appointing of new commissioners.

  10. shaka Zulu
    March 19, 2014

    Question. Is the speaker of the house hinting that the administration is not handling public funds properly as a result of the opposition not appointing members to the committee for proper oversight? Seeing there is no checks and balance the opposition is squarly to blame. With an 18-3 advantage and a government ran by one man isn’t that already a problem. No other ministers dare contest skerrit cause their hands are all dirty.
    I do not agree with UWP no show in parliament. I believe it does nor matter how many sits you win you do what you are elected to do based on principle however it is the responsibility of every minister to ensure that public funds are not abused and the country’s duties are fullfilled and to pass blame that suggest there is some lack of oversight is outrageous coming from speaker. Who is responsible for ensuring that these commitees are functioning for effective operation of the gov. Is it not the responsibility of the speaker. Wheb will we see a speaker who is fair an unbiased in her duties.

    • MY constituency
      March 19, 2014

      COULD NOT AGREE MORE

    • Anonymous
      March 20, 2014

      Each side appoints a certain number of its members to be on the various committees; it is YOUR biasness that makes you want to blame the Speaker if committees are not functioning because the opposition has been derelict in its duty to make such appointments. Sacway sot!

  11. Bucket
    March 19, 2014

    If the opposition is responsible for the PAC not functioning – why haven’t they been sanctioned or forced to do so? Isn’t it within the powers of the constitution?

    Surely the Gov and speaker should have been concerned in 2009 that there was no functioning PAC and even more so by 2010 – they have allowed it to get to 2014 and now blaming the opposition?

    I say they are all to be blamed, it works in the Gov’s favour if the PAC isn’t functioning and therefore they have let it slide while several people are reaping salaries and not producing any results.

    That is typical of Dominica and Dominicans at the moment,sit still and wait and when the heat is on pass the bucket and kick the blame onto someone else.

  12. dafriend
    March 19, 2014

    How low is this administration going to fall? When everything else fails, blame it on the opposition. Skerrit presents wrong travel accounts…the oppositions is to blame. Skerrit does not explain where the money for the passports are…it’s the flat of the opposition.
    I tell you where I am, you (DLP, Skerrit, DLP Ministers, Speaker of the House, President and DLP Advisor) are a lot of desperate vagabonds and it’s high time for all of you to disappear somewhere in the oblivion. What give all of you the right to try and keep fooling us on a daily basis???

  13. Ambrose B, NY City
    March 19, 2014

    Whjat difference would it make even if PAC was active, this speaker at all times and in many ways hell bent on stifling the voices on the opposition benches even when issues are raised in the public interest in the correct way. Her statement is a demonstration of hypocrisy which seems to be part of her DNA.

  14. Views Expressed
    March 19, 2014

    My God, not that Speaker again…

    ra ta ta tat…

    Crackling noise in my ears….

    • real possie
      March 19, 2014

      Yes that same speaker u all had the perfect chance to get rid of her but u all chose to chastise her now the thorn is still there to prick u all and make u all look as unprofessional as u all are.

      • Simply the Truth
        March 19, 2014

        The same applies to you. Learn some respect. :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen:

      • JoJo
        March 20, 2014

        I hear the lady in the House yesterday saying she has great difficulty in using the word “amicable” when dealing with the opposition , it is not in her “psyche”. Well I look up “psyche” and was suprised to read it means “human soul”. Boy. isn’t that revealing and damage to yourself? “Amicable” =”friendly and without disagreement”. I’m sorry for you madame speaker if you have to sit on your throne with that feeling and pretend to be impartial and fair. Maybe the opposition can be a pain in the posterior at times but that is why they are the opposition. Ca pa ka twavay and sure must make you miserable. You’re sure you are not in the wrong job?

    • Simply the Truth
      March 19, 2014

      Who are you? Maybe you could learn some respect? :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted:

  15. toma
    March 19, 2014

    sing for your supper lady

  16. ?
    March 19, 2014

    i have no reason to believe that the Government has any respect for the PAC. Passing de blame only makes your 18-3 government look like a joke.
    Ever since my PM open his mouth and talk of where DLP gets its money is none of my damn business how you expect me to think. Not even questions de government want to answer in de house.
    you ma speaker facilitating every move by this government to disrespect me!!!!!
    now you want to come and cry for me????
    Noticing you want?
    Since when you care about people?

    why de IPO cant conduct its investigations when de charges are brought against DLP members?
    De PAC is not de only safeguard to our constitution

    why you not fighting for de IPO to do it job as mandated by law?

    Our hackers working hard day and night. Even though you don’t provide de info to de PAC and de IPO we will still get it. thanks to people like Snowden

    we have all you covered now :twisted: :twisted: :mrgreen:

  17. Rule
    March 19, 2014

    Really worst madam speaker ever!!
    The Laborrats ship is sinking and they will cast blame on anything to hide their failures and incompetence.

    • Simply the Truth
      March 19, 2014

      And you? :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen:

  18. linky
    March 19, 2014

    she get a skepgoat it seems like the park becomes more important than the parlument it self

    • Simply the Truth
      March 19, 2014

      She get a what…? Learn to spell. Your sentence is lacking in it. I will not state the correct meaning of that word so as not to make you wise since you are so rude and disrespectful.. :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen:

  19. dichlorodiphenyltric
    March 19, 2014

    Alice in de palace, no way, no way, Alice that feminists no way no way I sayyyyyyy :lol: :lol:

  20. Anonymous
    March 19, 2014

    Lady you have no credibility. Like you would say anything else.

  21. mike
    March 19, 2014

    One simple question to all. With all that bickering how can a small country develop? 30 years from now when the Chinese take over Dominica and control everyhting we willbe looking at each other and saying what what what. And another thing is we all will change politcal parties and support who we hated 30 years ago. Some in our country will stillbe left behind. Is this a curse of balck people or slavery??????? Look in the mirror and please give me an answer.

    • Simply the Truth
      March 19, 2014

      Lack of cooperation and consistent criticisms will do it. Time will tell.

  22. Razor
    March 19, 2014

    Put them in power, they destroyed the country to build infrastructure and help each other. Put them in opposition, they are lazy and incompetent. What purpose does the UWP serve, really? A pressure group, noisemakers….?

    • Simply the Truth
      March 19, 2014

      It appears so.

  23. aye
    March 19, 2014

    Allow the public to be their own accounts committed not a group of persons. All these expenses should be in the public domain.

  24. Lougaoo Mem
    March 19, 2014

    Here goes the blame game! I do not believe a functional PAC is in the best interest of any government who’s made secrecy a part of their governance. The PAC remains alive by name just as the IPO. and nothing else.

    When the government changes, the people shall have a functioning PAC and an IPO with teeth.

    Thank You!

    • Yes I
      March 19, 2014

      If only you knew what a Public Accounts Committee was all about then you would not have make that poor comment. The Public Accounts Committee is a committee of selected members of Parliament, constituted by the Parliament, for the auditing of the expenditure of the Government….

      • Sunshine City Girl
        March 19, 2014

        People like you “Yes I” still believe that we are backward people, or Dominicans from the stone age. When an audit is being done, questions are asked to get to the bottom of things that do not add up. If the opposition is being stifled by the Speaker and the government at large, their questions are never answered because “it is none of their damn business” how do you expect them to be effective or efficient at what they do? As my old grandmother would say, “all rope have an end” or 99 days for the thief and one for the police.

    • jjk
      March 19, 2014

      educate your self. understand before opening your trap.

      • FORKIT
        March 20, 2014

        you said nothing there to convince me that you are a smarty pants… or the most educated person in dominica.

    • Really?
      March 19, 2014

      The PAC is necessary. They oposition must do the job that the tax payers are paying them to do. This is an area where they have to lead while in oposition. If they cannot lead there, why should we trust them to lead the country. There should be no excuse for this.

  25. Bogoroy
    March 19, 2014

    Lazy and useless UWP! I don’t even know why they accept the cheques that we pay them each month. Maybe the masses should protest payment of cheques to those lazy and empty UWP parliamentarians.

    These guys have a fantastic opportunity through the PAC to hold the government accountable yet, instead of using that tool they go on Q95 and a world tour spreading lies and chasing rainbows. And then they will come and tell us all nancy story about “governance” and all kinds of ish. Wotless!

    SMFH!

    • There you have it.
      March 19, 2014

      Are you suggesting or saying that the Leader of the Opposition is incorrect in saying,

      “although the PAC has been asking a lot questions, information from the government has not been forthcoming.”?

      • coyote
        March 20, 2014

        joe,you are the one talking foolishness.we people dont believe skerrit is the government, it is skerrit who behaves like he is the government. everytime he speaks you hear it,i did this ,i did that. why is it for example is skerrit who runs the “red clinic” that programme should fall under the welfare devision.everything is me,me,me.nacissiism look it up.

    • coyote
      March 19, 2014

      But Bogoroy which Dominica are you living in? is it the same one where Roosevelt Skerrit is the prime minister? That same prime minister who said “no law” “no constitution” can stop him, the same one who told Dominicans to” go to hell it,s none of your damn business”. what makes you think he will answer any questions coming from the PAC.Get real.

      • Bogoroy
        March 19, 2014

        Yes, coyote, the same Dominica in which the PM has willingly faced the court or the IPO not once, not twice, but numerous times to explain his and his government’s conduct.

        Tell your bwoys dem in the blue team to get the PAC going and if Skerro refuses to attend then let us all skin him alive.

      • joe
        March 20, 2014

        Coyote is not Skerrit that have to answer questions, the word Government is not equal to Skerrit… In the case of the PAC it is the Accounting Officers such as the Financial Secretary and the Permanent secretaries that have to answer.

        There are over 4,000 Public Servants why do you people believe everything is Skerrit??

        I think they need to teach the role and functions of Governments from primary and again in primary schools, i think once we understand the roles of all in the Public Service we will have less crap and less foolish political talk… Do you know for example the PM or any Minister for that matter cannot sign government cheques??

    • .
      March 19, 2014

      @ Fake and LAZY BOGOROY If there are two individuals i just cannot listen, and will not listen or believe what they are saying is Boyd Knights and the outgoing PM ROOSEVELT SKERRIT.I believe in people who have a history of speaking the truth. These individuals don’t.
      SKERRO CALL THE ELECTION NAH! Can’t you see that it’s time you grant yourself a favour.

      • joe
        March 20, 2014

        . you only have one vote so stop doing as if your one vote can bring in uwp.. The masses will continue to vote for DLP.. Check this out the DLP Must and will win at least 18 seats and will take at least 2 more from UWP mark this page… The silent masses just continue ignoring you people all the empty barrels that just keep making noise and getting all heated up with anger, labourites don’t have time to argue with you people….. All you full of HATE!!!!!!!

    • jjk
      March 19, 2014

      Great

    • Roy Williams
      March 19, 2014

      Mr. Lennox Linton and UWP have requested the Skeritt led administration to clear the air concerning the many allegations of corruption involving Government, as Prime Minister he has never addressed them. Facts or fictions, Dominicans have the right to know. I support the Opposition, we will get all the answers after the General Elections are called.

      • Really?
        March 19, 2014

        And because of that the people that is being paid to do their job should take the money and do no work because they believe that this is how they want it. If they cannot lead in areas where they should when in oposition, how will they lead when in Govt?

      • Did u No?
        March 19, 2014

        But some people lucky Mamo did abolish ETB and create Dexia instead otherwise we have a pretty good idea in whose master’s company they would have been in the mid 1980s. It would have been difficult for them to have been in foreign selling fry fish, roti, bakes and sweeten water. :mrgreen:

      • HIM
        March 19, 2014

        @ Really. DO NO WORK? wHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT the lazy DLP is going to be sent packing? It’s because of the tremendous amount of work being done by this bright team.
        HOW LONG?
        NOT LONG!

      • Emile Zapatos
        March 20, 2014

        Which opposition do you support. The legally and constitutional elected members of the House of Assembly led by MR John or those street thugs led by Lennox Linton with no elective or representative value.
        You will soon be getting information you will not like. Maybe Linton and his two sisters will stone you again.

  26. Pedro
    March 19, 2014

    Its a crying shame that the PAC has not been effectively constituted. However, how can the director of Audit be serious about his job by passing blame: “On January 30th 2014, Director of Audit, Clarence Christian blamed the absence of a functioning PAC for “discrepancy” in the travel expenditure of prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit”. Very laughable. How can one blame the PAC for that? Are we saying the director of Audit cannot investigate any public accounts free of political interference?

    • Bogoroy
      March 19, 2014

      “How can one blame the PAC for that?”

      Simple, pedro, if the PAC funcions properly/as it should, it would have easy access to info about the PM’s travel expenses and, we all hope, they would use their authority to get explanations. (As if you do not already know this.)

      • Pedro
        March 19, 2014

        The point is the Director of Audit is pointing fingers at the Committee for discrepancy in the PM’s accounts. Doesn’t the Director of Audit have some responsibility too? Can he not investigate the PM’s expense account like any other government account, or is that above him?

      • real possie
        March 19, 2014

        Thank u Bogoroy after read the full story I should have just have read the last line when he said it made no sense to have the PAC cause the PM wont answer question, but that’s the point have your people in place then u can go public and make your point I don’t blame Spaggs and those guys its the people that let them get away with these mediocracy.

      • hmm
        March 19, 2014

        bo go roy do you understand the role of the PAC?

      • Sunshine City Girl
        March 19, 2014

        I really do not know what water that PM gave you guys to drink.

      • Bogoroy
        March 20, 2014

        Real Possie, your Spaggs has lied to you. Here is how we know.
        1. The last meeting of the PAC was a public farce more than one year ago.
        2. The PAC is very powerful. Anybody whom the PAC summons to answer questions is bound BY LAW to respond and provide teh data. No ifs or buts. So, any talk by the Opposition of “not getting information” is merely another lie! You can take ths to the bank.

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