N.T.U.C.B. supports restructuring Public Accounts Committee

Julius Espat

There have been a great deal of verbal fireworks on both sides of the floor in the House of Representatives recently, including blistering remarks by chairman Julius Espat, regarding the function of the Public Accounts Committee, charged with holding government responsible for its expenditures.  During last Wednesday’s sitting, a motion to reorganize the committee to include social partners, union representatives, the business community, as well as the churches, was summarily rejected.  Nonetheless, the idea of restructuring the working group is being strongly supported by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize. In a release issued earlier today, the N.T.U.C.B. says that streamlining the committee would allow for, quote, enhanced participatory democracy, unquote, as an outward sign of political determination for necessary reform.  The congress also urges all interested parties, including the Government of Belize, the Opposition, the private sector, among others, to join efforts in the restructuring of the Public Accounts Committee to inspire greater accountability and transparency of public funds.  The N.T.U.C.B. calls for a committee that will take into serious consideration the Auditor General’s report and hold wrongdoers accountable.  On another note, the congress has also suspended the membership of the Christian Workers Union as part of the umbrella organization.