Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle has called for significant reforms to Antigua and Barbuda’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), urging increased opposition representation to enhance governmental oversight and accountability.
During his budget response speech in Parliament, Mr Pringle highlighted what he described as longstanding challenges within the PAC, which is responsible for scrutinising government expenditure.
“The time has come for you to allow or appoint or elect at least three members from this side and two from that side,” Mr Pringle said, addressing Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin. “The Public Accounts Committee is an oversight committee for the government, and you are part of the government, Mr AG.”
Mr Pringle detailed the practical difficulties faced by the PAC under its current structure, which requires unequal representation from government and opposition members.
He noted that government ministers, who often serve on the committee, are frequently unavailable due to their ministerial duties, making it challenging to achieve a quorum.
“There’s a major challenge that you face with the Public Accounts Committee when the member for Barbuda leaves Barbuda to come over here for a Public Accounts Committee meeting, and we’re sitting here waiting for even one member of the government side to show up so that we can have a quorum,” he explained.
He said that the inability to convene meetings hampers the committee’s effectiveness in providing necessary oversight of government spending.
To address these issues, Mr Pringle proposed that the PAC be restructured to include three opposition members and two from the government side, a shift from the current representation model.
“All I’m requesting, AG, you will still have your oversight with your two members, but you should allow us as the opposition to work because we cannot convene a meeting without a quorum,” he stated.
He further argued that having ministers oversee themselves is counterintuitive to the committee’s purpose.
“You are asking ministers who are managing ministries to have oversight over themselves. How can that make sense?” Mr Pringle questioned. “You must come to the Public Accounts Committee to scrutinise the Ministry of Telecommunications. It makes no sense.”
Mr Pringle appealed directly to Attorney General Benjamin to consider the proposed changes, suggesting that they would not only improve the committee’s functionality but also alleviate scheduling pressures on government ministers.
“It also frees up your ministers to continue their work,” he noted. “I believe the time has come for you to allow or appoint or elect at least three members from this side and two from that side.”
He underscored that his request was not intended to be contentious but aimed at ensuring effective oversight.
“I thought that the AG would have said and the ministers would have said because, hey, listen… we are used to get assistance,” he said. “Let us be serious about this Public Accounts Committee.”
During the session, Prime Minister Gaston Browne interjected, suggesting that any changes to the committee’s structure must align with constitutional requirements.
“It’s not constitutional when the Constitution doesn’t speak to anything differently than the Leader of the Opposition must be the chairperson,” Mr Browne asserted.
He recommended better coordination and communication between committee members to address scheduling conflicts.
“What is required is some level of coordination and cooperation between the government members and the two members on the other side,” the Prime Minister said. “You cannot just leave it at the behest of a minister and just have an arbitrary date.”
Attorney General Benjamin echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiments, implying that constitutional provisions govern the committee’s composition and that any changes would need to adhere to legal frameworks.
Despite the government’s stance, Mr Pringle remained steadfast in his call for reform, emphasising the importance of the PAC’s role in democratic governance.
“Let us be real,” he urged. “We must hold this government accountable because we have heard over 30 promises of this project and that project… and out of 30 promises, I don’t think we can count five that have materialised.”
He stressed that effective oversight is crucial for transparency and accountability in government spending, which ultimately benefits the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.
Mr Pringle’s call for PAC reforms is part of his broader critique of the government’s transparency and fiscal management. Throughout his speech, he highlighted issues such as the lack of timely supplementary appropriation bills and difficulties in obtaining public information.
“Getting the information from the statistics division is impossible; it seems as if it’s top secret,” he remarked.
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to serving his constituents and holding the government accountable.
“I will continue to fight in your interest,” Mr Pringle vowed. “We are here to represent the most vulnerable in our constituencies and in this country, and we have to make sure that what we do here impacts their lives greatly.”
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Oh what a tangled web we weave!!!
“You are asking ministers who are managing ministries to have oversight over themselves. How can that make sense?” Mr Pringle questioned.
If there are 2 government members instead of 3, those 2 will no longer be have “oversight over themselves”?
Pringle is just dunce beyond belief! He’s gone from laughable to tragic now. Lord help!
Pringle is just making up excuses now that public pressure for leadership change in the UPP has reached an all time high. For years he did nothing as head of the Public Accounts Committee.
After previous meetings took place; he claimed to be reviewing the financial data, assisted by Sherfield Bowen and a team of financial students, yet he couldn’t come up with one credible report, criticism or recommendation on the public accounts.
All this whining amounts to blame shifting to cover his rear. Nothing else!
“Let us be real,” he urged. “We must hold this government accountable because we have heard over 30 promises of this project and that project… and out of 30 promises, I don’t think we can count five that have materialised.”
Richard Lewis said less than 1% of projects have gotten off the ground, even though we can see the Royalton, Royalton Chic, revived Jolly Beach Hotel, PLH, Nobu, multiple refurbishments and expansions, SIDS conference center, Booby Ally condo-style housing project etc have advanced, with more to come now Covid is behind us.
Now dunce Jamale Pringle says “I don’t think we can count five”? Pringle, you need to find better puppet masters. Your current handlers are making you sound less informed and less credible than you would otherwise come across.
This PAC must be an INDEPENDENT FORENSIC AUDITING FIRM, outside of the government’s purview, that should conduct such audits and oversights, similar to the arrangement(s) with those who are responsible for vetting CIP Candidates.
These auditing firms are given four(4) year contracts after they apply for and are awarded the contract.
Cheese and mice; rats and eggs; dawg and Kentucky Fried chicken must be separated by a parallel universe, whereby, they can see but can’t touch!
Our politicians cannot be trusted to keep the Nation’s accounts/books in the proper order.
Ras Smood aka Jumbee_Picknee
De’Ole Dutty Peg🦉Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
DEAD DARG PICK-UP-CORN, UPSIDE-DOWN-BIBLE PRINGLE continues to embaRASS himself more and more. How can any real person want to run as a candidate on his ticket?
Where is Brixtonian? Your wonder boy needs you more than ever to help bear some of the blows he’s getting.
what tablet, ear piece or letter did Pringle read that from?
Pringle doesn’t need a degree or to further his education because just like his good friend Baba he’s doing well in life, and making alot of money, two rich dunces. “we ma mix na mingle”
what tablet, ear piece or letter did Pringle read that from?
Pringle doesn’t need a degree or to further his education because just like his good friend Baba he’s doing well in life, and making alot of money, two rich dunces. “we na mix nor mingle, member we full a chips like Pringle”
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