{"id":239916,"date":"2025-06-06T12:00:18","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T16:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=239916"},"modified":"2025-06-06T12:39:49","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T16:39:49","slug":"opposition-urges-changes-to-pac-composition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/opposition-urges-changes-to-pac-composition\/","title":{"rendered":"Opposition Urges Changes to PAC Composition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Opposition Urges Changes to PAC Composition Amid Government Absenteeism<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle is calling for a change in the composition of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC<\/a><\/strong>), accusing government members of deliberately blocking the committee\u2019s work by failing to attend scheduled meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking on Observer AM<\/em> on Friday, Pringle said the current structure\u2014three government MPs and two opposition MPs\u2014gives the ruling party the power to prevent the committee from meeting by simply withholding attendance.<\/p>

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\u201cThe way the committee is currently structured gives the government the ability to block meetings simply by not showing up,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is a serious flaw in the system and a threat to transparency.\u201d<\/p>

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Pringle renewed his call for a reconstitution of the PAC to include three opposition members and two government members<\/strong>, which he believes would allow the committee to function even if government MPs are unavailable due to travel or other duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most recent PAC <\/a><\/strong>meeting, scheduled for June 5, was postponed after failing to meet the minimum quorum of three members. Pringle, along with Barbuda MP Trevor Walker, was present, but the three government-appointed members were absent. He said only two\u2014Hon. Daryll Matthew and Hon. Anthony Smith Jr.\u2014provided advance notice of travel, while no response was received from Hon. Melford Nicholas.<\/p>

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\u201cThis is not the first time this has happened,\u201d Pringle said. \u201cAnd unless we change the composition of the committee, it won\u2019t be the last.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Public Accounts Committee is tasked with examining government spending and ensuring that public funds are being used appropriately. Pringle said the June meeting was expected to address several high-interest matters, including:<\/p>

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