Church says its role in PAC hearing is to uphold integrity and accountability

Leroy Flowers

The Public Accounts Committee, led by pro-tem chairman John Saldivar, has reached out to the Council of Churches and is extending an olive branch to other social partners, following a joint statement in which they condemned the ongoing meetings calling it a charade.  On Wednesday, Saldivar met with President Roosevelt Papouloute and other members of the council and plans are underway to meet with the Chamber of Commerce on Friday.  According to Canon Leroy Flowers, the meeting was to chart the way forward by upholding the laws that govern the committee.

Canon Leroy Flowers, Representative, Council of Churches

“The members of the council met with the pro tem chairman and some other members of the committee to discuss a wide range of issues surrounding the Public Accounts Committee and how, from the churches’ perspective, we think that we can work more effectively.  At the end of the day it is about integrity and accountability and transparency so that the Belizean public can be aware that our leaders are doing the work that they are elected to do.”

Isani Cayetano

“Do you believe that this is a step in the right direction in order to include social partners, as well as the churches and other agencies or organizations who may be able to lend a hand in this particular endeavor?”

Canon Leroy Flowers

“Well it’s not a matter of whether the church is involved in the committee or not.  It’s a matter of what is best for Belize.  At the end of the day that’s all that the churches really are interested in.  It’s not about power or politics and who is in charge.  it’s a matter of what can we do to better improve the climate, the environment so that Belize will be more governable at the end of the day.  And that’s really what the discussion really centered all about.”

Isani Cayetano

“How involved do you believe the church would be in terms of looking into what has happened, looking at the current state of affairs and going forward?”

Canon Leroy Flowers

“Well, again it’s not about what the church will look into, it’s about what the law requires and our understanding is that the Public Accounts Committee which is a sub-committee of the National Assembly has a specific function to perform and so long as they perform that task in a very transparent, objective and accountable environment that’s all the church is interested in.”

A follow up meeting with the council of churches and other social partners is scheduled for next week.