-others reluctant to be replacement

MEETINGS of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that are scheduled for today and Monday have been cancelled owing to the undue stress parliamentary staff are experiencing as a result of the “unprofessional conduct” of some committee members.

This situation has become so unbearable that several complaints have been made and the parliamentary staff are now refusing to work with the committee.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, said that the presiding Clerk of the PAC came to him earlier this week in a visibly distressed state, requesting to be removed.

“After the last meeting, the Clerk of the Committee came to my office in tears. She broke down, she asked to be removed. She told me she was sick. I observed that she was thin, she is sick and has lost weight. I have never seen her that thin, she has lost weight, she is fed up and I observed that for myself,” Isaacs said in a telephone interview.

The PAC last met on Monday, when issues had arisen between the government and the opposition sides over deliberations on the frequency with which meetings of the committee should be held.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira attempted to move a motion which sought to have the frequency of the PAC meetings remain once weekly. PAC Chairman Jermaine Figueira subsequently asked for additional time to review the submission, promising to resume meetings on Monday. However, he later reneged and scheduled a meeting for today.

Isaacs said following the clerk’s request to be removed, he sought a replacement for the upcoming meetings; however, all of his staff were reluctant to work with the committee.

“I had a meeting with the Head of Committee Divisions and others, and they are all refusing. The most senior clerk, I asked her and she said no. She said she troubles with her pressure. I spoke with the second most senior clerk, who also refused,” Isaacs explained.

He noted that he will be holding further meetings with the staff to work out a solution and have a clerk provided to the committee by next week. He said that would not be possible by Monday.

According to the Standing Order 6(8) of Parliament, the Clerk of the Assembly is responsible for providing every Select Committee of the Assembly with a clerk. However, now unable to do so, Isaacs said he is left with no option but to cancel the scheduled meetings.

In a letter dated 21 October, 2021, Isaacs informed PAC Chairman, Jermaine Figueira, and other PAC members, of the cancellation of meetings and detailed the toll the behaviour of some committee members is having on his staff.

“Due to the frequent challenges being encountered at meetings of the Public Accounts Committee, the present Clerk of the Committee has developed health issues because of high stress levels and cannot continue to clerk the committee. All other Clerks of Committees are unwilling to clerk the Public Accounts Committee because of the unprofessional conduct of some members of this committee, which is not conducive to a healthy working environment,” Isaacs outlined in his letter.

Isaacs said he stands with his staff in their sentiments towards the PAC.

“What is written in the letter is the truth. They are the facts of the matter. The clerks have my support. They are my staff and I support them fully,” Isaacs established.

Being in charge of scrutinising financial irregularities flagged in the annual Auditor General (AG)’s reports., the work of the PAC is extremely important. The committee currently has a huge backlog and is only now scrutinizing the 2016 Audit Reports.

The PAC is responsible for providing general supervision over the functioning of the Auditor General in accordance with the rules, policies and procedures manual and for nominating members of the Public Procurement Commission for approval by the National Assembly and, thereafter, the appointment by the President.

The committee comprises nine members, five from the government side and four from the opposition and is chaired by a Member of Parliament (MP) from the main opposition.