The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has condemned government’s actions that significantly weaken the independence and effectiveness of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Guyana.
The coalition warned that these moves represent a deliberate attempt to obstruct parliamentary oversight, undermine transparency, and facilitate corruption and waste of taxpayers’ funds.
Member of Parliament Juretha Fernandes, during the APNU press conference, said that the first meeting was scheduled for Monday June 22 after the chair was elected. The PPP members of the committee had indicated their unavailability and they did not have a quorum. Thereafter, from Tuesday through Friday PPP’S committee members repeatedly communicated their unavailability.
The PAC Chairman has attempted to convene meetings to review Auditor General reports, but government members have repeatedly refused, citing unavailability and resulting in canceled sessions
In an effort to have a meeting despite the setbacks, an email was sent from the committee staff at the level of the national assembly asking for MP to indicate a suitable time to meet for the PAC. Fernandes said herself and MP Ganesh Manipaul responded and indicated their availability.
Fernandes said the PPP/C members again expressed their unavailability for the virtual meeting. Fernandes said the 2019 report has only three paragraphs remaining before completion. The auditor general has already submitted the 2024 report. The outstanding reports to be examined are 2020, 2021,2022, 2023 and 2024.
From August 10 to October 10 parliament would go into its annual recess. The PAC has not met since November 3, 2025. If the PAC does not meet before recess, upon resumption of parliament in October it would be 11 months without any meeting of the PAC following government delays.
In April 13, 2022, the PPP/C administration amended the requirements for a quorum to convene the PAC. APNU said they protested outside the National Assembly, warning that the change aimed to stymie the committee’s work and prevent accountability for government spending. They said that those warnings have proven prescient as the nation faces the consequences of that silence, lack of transparency, unchecked corruption, and squandered public resources.
The APNU coalition emphasized that the Constitution of Guyana, through Article 223, guarantees the independence of the Auditor General and mandates that the nation’s public accounts be audited independently. The PAC is not a ceremonial body; it is a critical democratic institution tasked with scrutinizing the use of public funds, overseeing the Auditor General’s work, and ensuring transparency in the Public Procurement Commission.
However, the recent quorum amendment, introduced by the PPP/C government has compromised the committee’s independence. Previously, Standing Order No. 95(6) allowed the PAC to meet with just three members, including the chairperson, once a quorum was established. The new Standing Order No. 82 requires five members, two government representatives, two opposition members, and the Chairperson. This shift and the government members’ decision to not attend are stalling investigations into public spending from 2020 to 2024.
“As a result, the government spending for 2020 to 2024 has not yet been examined. This is not accountability. This is obstruction and the facilitation of incompetence, the waste of taxpayers’ money, and corruption.”
The coalition reminded the PPP/C government that all public money, funds for roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, contracts, and public programs, belongs to the people of Guyana. They added no government has the right to frustrate mechanisms designed to ensure that money is spent lawfully, efficiently, and in the public interest.
The coalition demands include an immediate and regular convening of the Public Accounts Committee, full attendance by government members at all legitimate meetings and an accelerated schedule to review the Auditor General’s reports and clear the backlog.
The coalition extended a call to all Guyanese citizens, civil society organizations, trade unions, faith leaders, professionals, youth groups, and community advocates to stand against this assault on democracy.
“When Members of Parliament from the PPP/C visit your communities, ask them: Why is the Public Accounts Committee not functioning effectively? Ask the Government: Why are you afraid of scrutiny and not attending meetings of the PAC? Ask every public official: Will you defend the people’s right to accountability, or will you defend secrecy and corruption?” APNU said.
