Georgetown: A 15-hour Parliamentary sitting ended at 5:32 a.m on Tuesday with the removal of Opposition Parliamentarian David Patterson as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The Motion, which was moved by Government Chief Whip and Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira, was passed after a 34-31 vote which saw only Lenox Shuman from the opposition voting in favour.
The intention is that another opposition member of the PAC be the Chairperson instead.
Patterson himself was present and voted along with the other 30 MPs from the APNU+AFC opposition against the Motion.
“No chairperson is so entrenched and entitled to the point at he or she cannot be removed. Just like a government, if a government can be removed why not a chair of a committee? This is logical, isn’t it?” she questioned.
The government Chief Whip, who is also a member of the PAC, said she had hoped Patterson would do the right thing and resign.
His refusal forced Teixeira to file the June 3, 2021 Motion in the House.
According to the document, Patterson “has consistently and openly violated the Standing Orders and has introduced a level of bullyism unbefitting of a Member of Parliament, and, in doing so, bringing the image of the National Assembly into disrepute.”
It added: “That as a result of Mr. David Patterson’s conduct as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee with respect to his open violation of the Standing Orders, among other things, in particular since February 1, the majority of the members of the Public Accounts Committee have lost confidence in him as the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.”
Patterson was nominated and declared chair when the PAC met on December 28, 2020. However, at its sixth meeting on February 1, the examination of the 2016 Auditor General’s Report revealed several concerning expenditures from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, which Patterson had led during the period under review.
Revelations that former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson received millions in gifts and furnishings from the State’s coffers are likely to be investigated by the Integrity Commission which will probe whether the former Minister declared any of these items.
Integrity Commission Chairman Kumar Doraisami confirmed that the Commission is keeping a close eye on the situation and has initiated the process to investigate Patterson and has sent a complaint form to Patterson’s successor, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill.
“We have taken some steps; we have sent a complaint form to the Minister [Edghill]. Because we cannot do anything until a complaint comes in. So as soon as that form is sent in, we will start proceedings to check whether or not the allegations are true,” he said, admitting that the law does not allow for them to act entirely on their own.
“Receiving of gifts more than $10,000 is a violation of the Integrity Commission laws [without a declaration]. So, we have to look at it. Its an offence. Based on what I read, he seems to be accustomed to gifts being given out. And it’s not being given out personally by employees. It’s taking funds out of Government organisations and spending it lavishly on Ministers and other persons,” he also said.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly Monday night approved a $21.3 billion Supplementary Budget for the remainder of 2021.
The funds will be spent on addressing a number of key issues, including the ongoing floods; the purchase of more COVID-19 vaccines; the execution of much-needed repairs to the Demerara Harbour Bridge and increased support for the Guyana Sugar Corporation.
During the debates, Teixeira told the House that there was no entitlement of an individual for the Chairmanship of the PAC and that it was being held to ransom by the opposition who refused to have Patterson resign and as a consequence has prevented any meeting of the Committee.
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