PAC chair queries failure to change PMFL

| 11/01/2011

(CNS): The chair of the Public Accounts Committee has questioned why government has not been able to find time to make temporary amendments to the Public Management and Finance Law that will enable the various ministries and portfolios to get their accounts up to date. Officially tabling a recent damning report by the auditor general in the Legislative Assembly, Ezzard Miller pointed to the AG’s call for government to formerly suspend quarterly reporting requirements and the need to report on outputs until the public finances were up to date. Miller reminded members that it had been agreed with the financial secretary in June 2009 that certain elements of the PMFL would be suspended but nothing had happened. (Photo Dennie WarrenJr)

“It is difficult for me as chair of the Public Accounts Committee to comprehend how government can find the time for all of the legislation that is before us today but cannot find time to amend two clauses to temporarily suspend outputs and quarterly reports in the PMFL so we can finish these accounts,” the North Side MLA said in the Assembly on Monday morning. “I ask government again to make these minor changes so we can address this backlog.”

The PAC chair called on the public and his legislative colleagues to read the report of Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick as he said it was essential that people recognized the importance of having timely and effecting accounts of how public money is being spent.

Miller highlighted Swarbrick’s comments in the report about the lack of leadership with regard to addressing the continued government accountability problem.

“It is particularly concerning to me … that nine years after the PMFL was enacted there are still questions about the leadership,” he said, adding that it was clear that the relevant authorities were not holding those responsible to account.

He told his legislative colleagues that he had asked the Attorney General’s Office for its advice in October and the responsibility of CFOs who had broken the PMFL in relation to holding them accountable legally but he said he was still waiting for a response. Miller recalled that COs and CFOs had all given undertakings to have their accounts in order by September of last year and that they would all meet this year’s deadline but many had failed to meet that commitment and obligation. He also asked why the dozens of missing annual reports, which are believed to be sitting in ministries waiting for government sign off, had not been brought to the LA so that they could become public documents.

Lamenting the AG’s findings in the report, which was made public before Christmas, Miller said it was very serious and the fact that the government’s auditor was having to issue so many disclaimers indicating the accounting for public money could not be relied upon should be of very significant concern to the members of the House.

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  1. Macman says:

    If you can’t win the game by playing by the set rules……change the rules so you can win.

  2. nauticalone says:

    What a mess!

  3. Anonymous says:

    ezzard sure is doing a good job in deflecting peoples attention away from  his failure as chairperson of the public accounts committee……

    • Anonymous says:

      He calls the meetings and demands that people come and defend their accounts whether the rest of the McKeevarites appointed to PAC choose to attend the meetings or not.

      Where exactly do you see any failures in Ezzard’s chairmanship?

      When Ezzard is wrong I will call him on it, as I (and many others) did with his stupid motion on Brent Fuller, but his being appointed Chairman of PAC is the best thing that ever happend.

      If you can recall where anything better was ever done with PAC under any other chairman then I would be happy to hear about it. You could also cite one example just to show that you gave some thought before posting.

    • Anonymous says:

      "ezzard sure is doing a good job in deflecting peoples attention away from  his failure as chairperson of the public accounts committee"

      He is useing the "Chewbacca" defense.

  4. ready to work hard says:

    Mr. Miller I admire you a lot ank know that you are trying your best. But let’s face it being an independant, you are only one voice one vote in which you have been voting with yhe opposition. I know you have North Side at heart but the whole Contry needs you. Why not join hands with Alden. At least consider it. Now that would even be better then fresh blood. That would be rich blood and you would be getting your accounts done on time. We could call it produce your statements or get out of the way. I am certain you would uncover some interesting facts.

  5. Anonymous says:

    If it wasn’t so outrageous it would be funny that the Auditor General says the government accountants need to be trained to produce the proper reports.

    Given these comments how long will he last?

    Ezzard wants to cut back on the reporting requirements as they are not being done anyway. That’s the answer for sure. Why not eliminate the problem by abolishing all reporting requirements?

    • Anonymous says:

      ."………..eliminate the problem by abolishing all reporting requirements". Great idea Anon 12:40. Then we would  certainly have absolutely no idea what the money is spent on – bingo — all problems solved.

  6. Anonymous says:

    I know one thing for sure Bush and his party is finished.  PPM is on a skating board too.

    • Anonymous says:

      It seems it is left with Independent Ezzard Miller to make a positive difference.  Will he?