The next meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) could be this week.
This is according to Chairman of the Committee David Patterson who told Stabroek New that no meeting had been scheduled for yesterday since the examination of the Budget Estimates had originally been scheduled to be completed then.
“We are trying now to arrange a meeting later this week or if not it will be on the Statutory day next week,” he explained.
The PAC has not met since February 1 when APNU+AFC members refused to entertain a motion seeking to remove Patterson as Chair.
The motion brought by Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, called for Patterson to recuse himself as Chair. It was presented without notice or explanation aside from a lack of confidence on the part of the government.
Patterson has been the subject of controversy ever since it was revealed that he and his former junior Minister Annette Ferguson accepted millions of dollars in personal gifts from agencies under their purview.
The governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) through Edghill has repeatedly called for Patterson to resign his post as Chair of the PAC.
When the motion was put to a vote, Patterson removed himself as Chair but none of his colleagues would accept the post in his stead and the meeting stalled.
At the time Teixeira explained that going forward it may be likely that the Committee of Selection will have to meet and discuss the selection of the committee.
“The Speaker will have to probably get involved with another election of the Committee Chair. The Opposition has the right to change any member of any Committee at any time through the Committee of Selection,” she said.
