Dear Editor,
The parliamentary oversight body on public spending is in an uproar again, this time over disagreement on the scrutiny of the 2019 and 2020 AG Reports with claims of ‘obstructionist approach’ (Guyana Standard News July 16).
The Government side is insisting the reports need to be done separately and consecutively in order to properly scrutinise the post-NCM spending of the previous Government, given its status at the time.
The request is reasonable, in this instance, and should be seen as such as it would aid in getting a better grasp and understanding of spending accountability and transparency for the periods, since the then Government was in contravention of the Constitution.
After all the frequent calls for accountability and transparency cannot be directed to one side only and the claim ‘the public has a right to know’ (GSN July 16) must be even-handed and across the board as failure to be reasonable in this instance can create a different impression.
It was noted no meeting was held on Monday, July 11 as members of the Government side were absent, due to state engagements in the form of the just concluded NTC. One member, it is alleged, informed of her unavailability at 01:00h the same day. (SN July 17). That was unreasonable since NTC was known in advance.
When will people empowered to be leaders display the maturity so badly needed to move Guyana forward? We seem bogged down with inconsequential matters which is hampering our being able to move collectively.
Sincerely,
Shamshun Mohamed
