Social partners satisfied after majority of their recommendations were accepted

The social partners are tonight expressing satisfaction that the majority of their recommendations were accepted to restructure the Public Accounts Committee, including a change to the working group.  Those suggestions were presented by the Council of Churches, the unions, as well as the business sector during individual meetings with pro tem chairman John Saldivar.  After thoroughly scrutinizing the recommendations, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry today issued a joint release applauding government for its effort to reform the committee.  Of the three proposals, the social partners are in full agreement that quorum for future meetings should be changed to five.  The Public Accounts Committee failed to convene a previous meeting on October thirtieth when it was unable to appoint substitutes in the absence of the opposition and other members.  Secondly, all reports generated from meetings of the committee taken back to the House of Representatives should include a minority opinion if there is any.  While those terms were approved, the chamber and the unions are in partial agreement with the composition of the committee.  They propose that the PAC be comprised instead of nine members, four representing the government, two opposition members and three representatives of the social partners.  The government will retain the majority, while the opposition maintains chairmanship of the committee.  Both sides are advised to select alternates in the event that a member must be disqualified in the event that there is a conflict of interest.  Control of Public Expenditure and the Standing Orders pertinent to the Public Accounts Committee should be redrafted to include the agreed changes. Finally, the NTUCB and the BCCI are of the view that for the committee to function properly it must taken on the qualities of a Special Select Committee.