The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PUBLIC Accounts Committee Chairman Hubert Chipman said the official opposition is beset with a “looming crisis of confidence” springing from what it believes to be a wide-scale “lack of accountability and transparency” in the Christie administration.

He added that in spite of an earlier ruling by Speaker of the House Dr Kendal Major, the PAC will continue its probe into Urban Renewal and will use all of its powers to compel the programme’s co-chairs to appear before the group for questioning.

Mr Chipman’s statements, some of which he delivered in the House of Assembly yesterday, set off a war of words in the Lower Chamber.

After declining to read the rest of his prepared text, he released his statement to the press. The document was also signed by the other Free National Movement members of the PAC, East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest and Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn.

“Last year’s 2014 to 2015 National Budget, an abridged document lacking in critical details, was the tip of the iceberg upon which so many calls and requests for transparency and information on public spending have repeatedly run aground,” Mr Chipman said.

“We have yet to ascertain all of the facts, errors, spending and outstanding matters related to BAMSI. We are confronted with serious managerial and expenditure concerns raised by the Auditor General (Terrance Bastian) on the government’s Urban Renewal and Small Homes Repair Programme. The Public Accounts Committee is being stymied in its efforts to fully investigate this matter. The attack on the auditor general by certain individuals is disturbing and should be stopped and denounced by the appropriate Cabinet ministers.

“The PAC will insist on calling the co-chairs of the Urban Renewal Commission. They will be expected not only to meet with the PAC but also to fully cooperate with the committee. If they fail to voluntarily attend, we will use the power of the committee to compel their attendance. This crisis of confidence of which we speak, involves contempt for certain longstanding democratic and parliamentary processes, including interference in the essential work of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of this House.”

Mr Chipman said the crisis involved interference by the executive arm into the legislative branch of government and the work he said is exclusive to Parliament.

Some of Mr Chipman’s remarks were strongly criticised in Parliament, with Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell urging the St Anne’s MP to provide evidence for his allegations.

As for his claim about a breach in the separation of powers, State Minister for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez said he found this argument unbelievable.

“That the separation of powers doctrine could be invoked in a Westminster Parliament where the government comes from members of the House, I mean, that’s just foolish,” he said. “The separation of powers doctrine as it relates to the Westminster system deals specifically with the judiciary. It has nothing to do with the executive or the legislature. This is just complete nonsense.”

On May 13, Dr Major ordered the PAC to “stay its hand” regarding its probe of Urban Renewal 2.0 until Parliament can decide on the way forward.

He said in seeking legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General and others, he was informed that while the PAC possesses the power to send for persons, papers and records, the committee is only allowed to do so by way of a resolution in the House of Assembly.

The PAC had previously asked the auditor general to investigate Urban Renewal and its Small Homes Repair Programme. His report found numerous areas of concern and weaknesses related to management and expenditure. After the report was leaked to the media, Urban Renewal Co-Chairs Algernon Allen and Cynthia “Mother” Pratt refused to appear for a scheduled hearing of the PAC. They said the audit had not gone through the proper parliamentary procedure and was therefore illegal. The co-chairs said they would appear at an appropriate time, once the audit was off the table of questioning.

Afterwards, Mr Chipman said he would use the committee’s power to subpoena the co-chairs, however, Dr Major did not authorise this request.