The Public Accounts Committee of the Anguilla House of Assembly is now better equipped to undertake its function, after an intense five day capacity building seminar held in Westminster London. The Seminar which was held from the 1-5 February, 2015 sought to provide a comprehensive introduction of the role and functions of the PAC to the new Chair, Members and Officer of the PAC of the Anguilla House of Assembly in addition to a member of the Youth Parliament.
The Committee was able to share with and learn from various Members and Officers of the UK Parliament, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) UK Branch, World Bank Parliamentary Strengthening Programme, the UK Public Accounts Committee and others. A key part of the experience was to be able to meet with the Chair and Members of the Public Accounts Committee of the UK Parliament and to witness the proceedings of two of its inquiries.
Hon Evalie Bradley, Member of the Committee said:
“The program highlighted the critical importance of PAC to the ideals of good financial and fiscal management; to the overall effectiveness of government and in providing for greater transparency and effectiveness in the system.
In its efforts to further establish the PAC and to create an enabling environment within which to operate, the committee will host a follow-up workshop in Anguilla from April 4-6. The workshop, a collaborative effort between the Anguilla House of Assembly, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association – UK Branch and the Governor’s Office will target a wider group of stakeholders. The stakeholders will include among others:
Permanent Secretaries and Department Heads within the Public Service; statutory corporations; the general membership of the House of Assembly; the media.
Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee Hon Palmavon Webster said:
“PAC is a critical part of our emerging democracy. It provides an opportunity for members of the House to work together across party lines so as to ensure accountability on the part of the executive and to ensure that our people receive value for their money. It is this principle that has brought all the stakeholders together; our government, the British government and our international partners to support the initiative of the Anguilla House of Assembly to firmly establish the PAC.”
The Public Accounts Committee is a standing Committee of the Anguilla House of Assembly established by section 66A of the Legislative Assembly (Procedure) Rules, 1976. The duties of the Committee are:
a) to ascertain that the authorised expenditure during each financial year, including supplementary expenditure, has been applied to the purposes prescribed by the Legislature;
b) to scrutinise the causes which may have led to any excess over authorised expenditure, and to verify applications of savings on other authorised items of expenditure;
c) to make an effective examination of public accounts kept in any Department of Government; and
d) to summon any public officer to give any information, or any explanation or to produce any records or documents which the Committee may consider necessary in the performance of its duties.
The Members of the committee are: Hon Palmavon Webster, Chairman; Hon Evalie Bradley, Member; Hon Terry Harrigan, Member; Hon Paul Harrigan, Member.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
