Last night we told you about all the furor which was raised when Senator for the churches Ashley Rocke voted in favour of a joint select committee - proposed by the government - to investigate the Auditor General's reports. Forget about all that forgiveness and mercy stuff, the Churches called immediately and in unison for his removal. But what really is this new creature: A joint special select committee comprised of membership form both the Senate and the House? And who would lead it? The Prime Minister explained yesterday:...
Rt., Hon, Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"The proposal sir is for that joint select committees membership to reflect what we have agree in terms of the public accounts committee which is to be reconfigured, that there would be all 3 of the social partners on the joint select committee, 2 opposition, so that together they would make 5 and 6 for the government side. The chair of the committee come from among the social partners. Obviously if you're Mr. Questioner have anything to do with it, that chair could never be Senator Rocke and we will never agree to Senator Lizaragga. So I think Ms. Elena Smith better get prepared to step up."
Both the churches and the business sector have agreed to participate in this model proposed by the government. But, the PUP says, it's sticking with its proposal for a Senate Select Committee. The party sent out a release arguing that the Senate is the body that is empowered by the Constitution of Belize to conduct "inquiries and investigations on any matter of public interest or importance, including inquiries into mismanagement or corruption by persons in the central government or public statutory body."
They say the government's proposals for a Bicameral Select Committee is quote, "yet another way to sidestep the Senate and the Constitution."
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