The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is set to introduce a motion in the National Assembly aimed at granting the committee the authority to summon public officials to its meetings.
This decision comes in response to communication challenges that have caused delays in PAC proceedings due to the unavailability of key officials for questioning.
During a recent PAC session, members expressed frustration over the three-week delay in proceedings, emphasizing the importance of their work in addressing matters of grave national concern.
To address these challenges, the committee is advocating for a change in laws that would empower them to summon individuals.
Juretha Fernandes, a PAC member, highlighted the collective effort to present the motion to the National Assembly, emphasizing the need for legal changes to grant the committee the power to compel the attendance of individuals.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill outlined the proposed procedure for summoning officials, indicating that the summons would be publicized in newspapers, specifying the date and time for their appearance before the committee.
Minister Edghill cited previous challenges in dealing with absent regional officers during the examination of earlier years under their watch.
The motion to grant the PAC the authority to summon officials is prompted by the repeated absence of key personnel from government and regional agencies, hindering the committee’s efforts to address discrepancies highlighted in the auditor general reports.
The committee stressed that summoning officials is considered a last resort after exhausting all other avenues to secure their attendance.
As the PAC strives to fulfill its mandate in scrutinizing public spending and holding officials accountable, the proposed motion aims to streamline the process and enhance the committee’s effectiveness.