The APNU+AFC opposition is deeply concerned about the manner in which Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh is managing the public purse. The main parliamentary opposition believes that Dr. Singh, and by extension the entire PPP government, has demonstrated poor economic management and a blatant disregard for proper budgeting.
As such, efforts are afoot to examine legal reproach.
These sentiments were expressed by leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon during a press conference he hosted this morning. Harmon called the presser to speak on the financial papers presented by Government on Monday that are up for passage tomorrow.
Harmon told the media that it appears as if Dr. Singh has been abusing his constitutionally provided power to approach the Contingency Fund.
He said that it is totally unacceptable that the PPP government will take to the House two financial papers, totaling $26.5B, just 15 days before the close of the year and when Government books are to be closed on midnight December 31, 2021.
Harmon recalled that in June this year, he pointed out that the PPP, in a mere 3 and 1/2 months after the 2021 $383B Budget was approved, returned to the House with two financial papers seeking an additional $23B, of which $21B was “secretly swiped” from the Contingency Fund.
Harmon said, “These monies were expended without any oversight or accountability by the National Assembly. Now here we are in December of 2021 and these expert pilferers are coming again to the National Assembly a few days before the end of the year to request that the house approves a further $5.1 billion that they have already taken from the Contingency Fund and $21.4 Billion dollars supplementary provision that they plan on spending over the next two weeks.”
Harmon noted that Article 220 (1) of the Constitution states that, “Parliament may make provision for the establishment of a Contingencies Fund and for authorising the Minister responsible for finance to make advances from that Fund if he or she is satisfied that there is an urgent need for expenditure for which no other provision exists.”
Further, he stated that the Financial Management and Accountability Act Section 41 states clearly that the Minister must be satisfied that all matters that are dealt with under this section are urgent, unavoidable and unforeseen, therefore justifying the need for the expenditure.
Harmon said that when examining financial paper No.3/2021, he is left to ask how any reasonable Minister responsible for finance can honestly say that all of the monies taken from the fund during this period fit the criteria set out by the Constitution and the FMAA.
The Opposition Leader noted that much of the money used and that which is being asked for were spent and allocated to be spent on line items that cannot be deemed unforeseen, unavoidable or for any emergency.
He said there is also a concern about double dipping.
Harmon said that the opposition is cognizant of the fact that many of its questions may go unanswered and that the PPP will use its majority in the House to pass the sums. Therefore, legal action is being examined as a viable option to be taken by the Opposition in its quest to hold government accountable.
Harmon said a full discussion was had on the matter and lawyers are of the view that Dr. Singh can be taken to court for exercising his discretion to take from the fund without having proper purpose to so do.
