Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Vishnu Panday yesterday appealed to Opposition members to proceed with the committee’s work despite objections to the presence of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, warning that the body is already six years behind in scrutinising the Auditor General’s reports.
However, moments later, APNU Parliamentarians Ganesh Mahipaul and Juretha Fernandes walked out of the meeting after Panday ruled that Edghill could not be compelled to leave, leaving the committee without a quorum and forcing the meeting to be aborted.
Speaking with Kiskadee Watch afterwards, Panday said he acknowledged the concerns raised about Edghill’s continued participation in the PAC following the MV Barima tragedy, but urged Opposition members not to allow the issue to derail the committee’s work.
“I said to Mr. Mahipaul and Ms Fernandes that as an individual I share their concerns; there is no question about that. However, when we look at the PAC, the delays we’ve had in holding meetings since after elections, it is now we are commencing holding meetings,” Panday said.
He noted that the sitting was the first time the committee had begun examining the 2019 and 2020 public accounts.
“Given that we are six years behind, and historically, one year of the Auditor General’s report takes the committee one year to go through; in other words, we couldn’t finish the backlog until 2032. Is that proper business? Is that where we’re looking after the interest of our people? So, I actually made a plea with them that given the volume of work, given the backlog of work, let’s move on,” he shared.
The meeting had commenced with all committee members present, including some attending virtually, when Edghill entered the room. Mahipaul then sought permission to address the committee and argued that Edghill should either recuse himself or be asked to leave because of public criticism surrounding the MV Barima disaster and calls for his resignation.
Fernandes supported Mahipaul’s position.
Panday said that although he personally sympathised with the concerns, he was required to rule according to the Standing Orders and the Constitution. He said only Edghill could voluntarily recuse himself and that, as chairman, he had no legal authority to order the minister to leave the meeting.
“Up to this point in time, Mr. Edghill is still a minister within the government. Mr. Edghill has not been disciplined in the form of a suspension or a dismissal. Whether we like it as a public or as individuals, I cannot bring that into this office as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee,” Panday said.
After he delivered his ruling and appealed for the committee to continue its work because of the extensive backlog, the APNU parliamentarians stood by their objection.
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