See letter below written by Alliance for Change (AFC) Executive Member and former Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir:
Mr Speaker,
I note with disappointment, that no notice for the convening of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been issued, thus it is now highly unlikely that you be upholding your duty to summon the first meeting to have this very important committee constitutionally established.
I draw your attention to the fact, that on behalf of the Opposition Members of the PAC, I have written to you on November 18 & 25, 2020, December 1, 10 & 18, 2020 seeking to have you discharge your duties to convene the first meeting of the PAC. All our efforts thus far have been unsuccessful.
It is unacceptable to have the Parliament convened at great expense to the citizens, and not use this opportunity to convene committee meetings. It is disrespectful to the Members and a disservice to the country. As such, we do not see any benefit in attending a parliamentary session, which does not take the opportunity, to reestablish our Assembly on a firm footing.
In the past, when faced with similar circumstances, former Speakers would have requested that our Standing orders be suspended by motion, hence suspending the time required for scheduling of committee meetings (which is three (3) days in the case of the PAC), I write in a final plea and ask that you confirm that you will be willing to request that the Parliament suspend our Standing Orders and summon a meeting at very short notice. The Opposition Members of the PAC will be on standby, ready and able to attend as soon as there is any indication from your good self, about convening the first meeting of the PAC.
I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight that Questions to Ministers, as submitted by myself as well as Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan MP, duly approved and circulated were not included on the 14th Order Paper. We assume that those omissions were a simple oversight, and a supplementary Order Paper will be issued correcting these omissions.
As always, I await your instructions.
Kind regards
David Patterson M.P.
