Honourable Lorna G. Smith OBE (AL), has been officially appointed to the House of Assembly's (HoA) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) following a motion passed unanimously by members during its December 19, 2024, sitting. Photo: YouTube

Deputy Premier Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) encouraged members of the Public Accounts Committee to utilise their broad oversight powers effectively. Photo: YouTube

Deputy Speaker Honourable Stacy R. Mather (AL) introduced the motion to fill the vacancy left by Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3). Photo: YouTube

Deputy Speaker Honourable Stacy R. Mather (AL) introduced the motion to fill the vacancy left by Deputy Premier Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3), who had formally expressed his desire to discontinue serving on the committee.

The PAC, constituted on October 31, 2023, originally included Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (Chairman), Deputy Speaker Hon Mather, Third District Representative and Chairman of the Progressive United Party (PU) Hon Fraser RA, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6), and Second District Representative, Hon. Melvin M. Turnbull.

Moving the motion, Honourable Mather detailed the circumstances necessitating the reconstitution of the PAC.

“Whereas Honourable Julian Fraser expressed to the Speaker (Corine N. George-Massicote) upon his appointment that he did not wish to serve on the committee and thereafter provided written communication to terminate his membership”

He further explained that Hon Lorna G. Smith OBE has expressed an interest in serving on the committee” and as such proposed, “... it (be) resolved by the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands that Honourable Lorna G. Smith OBE shall be a member of the Public Accounts Committee and perform the functions thereof.”

PAC ‘the most powerful committee’ in HoA- Hon Fraser

Addressing the brief debate, Hon Fraser rose to first clarify his decision not to serve on the PAC.

“Madam Speaker, I’ve always been a member of the Public Accounts Committee ever since I’ve been in the opposition, which was a long time. For some reason, I made it clear—and it turned out not to be as clear as it should have been—that I did not wish to serve on the committee.”

With this in mind, he nonetheless sought to underscore the importance of the PAC, describing it as “the most powerful committee in any assembly.”

As such, Hon Fraser encouraged committee members to utilise their broad oversight powers effectively, iterating for members that sit on the committee to, “exercise that right, that privilege.”

Do your research, he said “and you will see that your powers are unlimited,” stressing the committee’s critical role in ensuring accountability.

The motion was subsequently passed without opposition.