For the first time in the history of parliamentary practice in Anguilla there is an inquiry into the Financial Reporting of Government Agencies. It is a task being undertaken by the recently fully-constituted Public Accounts Committee, established by the Anguilla House of Assembly.
The Committee has as its chairperson the Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Palmavon Webster, Elected Member for District 1; with the other members being Mrs. Evalie Bradley, Elected Member for Road North; Mr. Terry Harrigan, First Nominated Member and Deputy Speaker; and Mr. Paul Harrigan, Second Nominated Member.
The Public Accounts Committee is not a new initiative. It has been in existence for some years during the tenure of successive Governments, but this is the first time that it has been formally appointed and has actually begun to function.
The inquiry is a result of a 2012 report by the Chief Auditor of Anguilla with respect to the accounts of the Government of Anguilla. One of four agencies selected for the financial scrutiny is the Health Authority of Anguilla whose inquiry began on Wednesday, this week, at the House of Assembly. The other agencies to follow in order of appearance are the Anguilla Air and Seaports Authority; the Anguilla National Trust; and the Water Corporation.
The inquiry seeks to underscore what is best practice in financial reporting with respect to government agencies in Anguilla; consider the existing arrangements and practice; identify existing impediments or shortcomings if any in the implementation of best practice within the named agencies; determine the causes for the impediments or shortcomings; establish and propose remedial action as necessary to achieve best practice in financial reporting; and examine any other related matters. The objectives of the inquiry are being achieved through a combination of desk research and a series of oral evidence sessions.
The Public Accounts Committee is expected to publish a report on its findings in a few weeks’ time (by September 22). The Committee was established at the Fourth Meeting of the First Session of the Eleventh Anguilla House of Assembly on September 22, 2015.
Commenting on the work of the Committee, Ms. Palmavon Webster said: “I would like to recognise and publicly thank, for their contribution, our partners in this endeavour: the Speaker and Members and Staff of the Honourable House of Assembly; the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (UK Branch); Her Majesty’s Governor’s Office in Anguilla; the Chief Auditor of Anguilla and his team; the Governor of Anguilla; and the people of Anguilla who have reiterated their desire and support for greater accountability and better governance.”
