Hon. Fraser calls it quits from Public Accounts Committee!
The sources confirmed he resigned since November 5, 2013.
While Leader of the Opposition and the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, and Hon. Fraser could not be reached for comment before post time, this information was also confirmed on the Order Paper for the House of Assembly sitting of November 19, 2013.
According to the Order Paper just obtained by this news site, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith will be moving a motion pursuant to Standing Order 72, to replace Honourable Fraser with Honourable Andrew A. Fahie, the First District Representative.
It is unclear why Hon. Fraser resigned from the Committee after being nominated by Chairman O’Neal, last year. However, the same VIP sources told this news site that Hon. Fraser has reportedly not attended much meetings of the powerful committee. The Public Accounts Committee is made up of its Chairman and Opposition Leader O’Neal, Honourables J. Alvin Christopher (Second District), Alvera Maduro-Caines (Sixth District) and Marlon A. Penn (Eighth District).
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
The Public Accounts Committee is a select committee of the House of Assembly. It is responsible for overseeing government expenditures to ensure they are effective and honest. The PAC is seen as a crucial mechanism for ensuring transparency and accountability in government financial operations. It reviews the Auditor General's reports and can call any Public Body to testify before it on their finances.
The PAC can also call on the Governor to carry out a Commission of Inquiry into any dishonest practices from any Government Bodies or individuals after an Audit report or its own investigations.
It is the only standing committee of the House that is chaired by the Leader of the Opposition and is a five member committee with three from the Opposition and two from Government. In the case where one Opposition Member is not present at a meeting and it becomes a tie, the Opposition Leader can cast an extra vote to break the tie.
Questions from Hon. Fraser at November 19, 2013 sitting
Meanwhile Hon. Julian Fraser has some 50 plus questions on the Order Paper to three Government front bench members. He will be peppering the Premier and the Ministers of Communications and Works and Education and Culture with questions on a variety of topics.
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith will have to answer questions ranging from revenue and expenditure for the month of October 2013, produce Treasury Statements for the month of October 2013, revenue received from the Financial Services Commission, balance of the Reserve Fund, amount of all unpaid vouchers at the Treasury and the relationship between the UK based McAlpine and the airport project among others.
The Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool will have to answer questions about cost of the last round of drain and ghut cleaning projects for all the districts, whether District Representatives were involved in determining the areas to be cleaned and the persons to carry out the work, and the cost of bush cutting conduced in all nine Districts, to name a few.
The controversial Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn is to be quizzed about monies of the Recreation Trust, final bills for the 2013 festival, final bills for the controversial $100G teacher’s dinner, and the name of company and cost to address the mould at schools and the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, among other questions.
The Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands will be carried live on November 19, 2013 from 10 A.M. on CBN TV channel 51.
45 Responses to “Hon. Fraser calls it quits from Public Accounts Committee!”
He hasn't attended much meetings. Says it all really, unless it benefits him why would he?
Seems like Fraser resigned in protest!!! there is more in the morta!!!!
Fraser, the country is bigger than Tilford. I trust that you are not loosing it.
cart yo @$$ you buy name put here?
Process is important and if you ignore it, the laws get ignored. If Gov is not putting up for review accurate accounts, all the more reason to plant your feet and get them reviewed, not just walk away...