Senator Salas Asks G.O.B. to Support J.P.A.C.

Osmany Salas

During Wednesday’s Senate Meeting, Senator for N.G.O.s, Osmany Salas, took at different approach in his contributions to the debate on the supplementary appropriation bill. Instead of debating the new allocations, which will pass regardless of a vote in the Senate, Senator Salas called for the allocation of greater funds to the Joint Public Accounts Committee. The move to form the joint committee back in July of 2021 was hailed as an innovative step. Replacing the previous Public Accounts Committee, its membership was expanded to include senators. But, seven months later, Senator Salas says politics have taken precedence.

Osmany Salas, N.G.O. Senator

“It is frustrating when we do not see the budgeting process and the financial management process going the way it should. Just looking at the acts of Parliament listed on the National Assembly website in calendar year, in 2015, there were four supplementary appropriation bills. In 2016 there were two. In 2017 there was one. 2018 there were three. Pandemic year there was none. Five in 2020, four in 2021, now we are having our first one this calendar year. I think that where we need to focus, and this is where I will make a public to say I won’t be able to debate the budget, but I want to ask our government to ensure that in the new budget there are resources in their to support the work of the Joint Public Accounts Committee, to support the clerk’s office so that they can give the support that the J.P.A.C. needs to strengthen the Auditor General. Why am I saying that? I think what is important or more important, because this general supplementary appropriation bill is a money bill. We could rail forty five minutes of our time, everybody could, and this thing cannot be stopped. I could understand where some Senators might want to take a vote for the record of where they stand. The fact of the matter is that this is passing. So from the independent stand point, what I would like to see is focus on strengthening the process to ensure there is accountability. I hope for I speak for my fellow social partners when I say how frustrated I have been that the J.P.AC. was set up seven months ago, and we are nowhere close to doing what the J.P.A.C. was set up to do, which is to examine consider and report on the accounts. Politics take precedence as usual.”