Hons. Fraser & O’Neal clash in HOA over PAC!
At the second sitting of the third session of the second House of Assembly held on November 19, 2013 First District Representative Honourable Andrew A. Fahie was approved by Parliament to replace Hon. Fraser.
Why he quit- Hon. Fraser
In addressing the matter as to why he resigned from the PAC, Hon. Fraser told the House of Assembly (HOA) that he was so far out front on the issue of the Ports Development Project and the need for openness and transparency to be the order of the day. He said there was no secret that he had spoken out on this project both in the public domain and in the HOA via questions so his position was clear.
Hon. Fraser said he has not one day ceased to let up on the matter. However, he said “a few weeks ago the Auditor General Report on the project was released to the PAC and something had to give as it relates to my advocacy on the streets and there are certain things as a member of PAC I cannot do”.
The former Minister for Communications and Works in the O’Neal Administration said, given his position that he “has been public it is expected that the Pubic Accounts Committee to be objective and fair in their dealings and that my being there will be looked upon as being subjective”.
In this regard he said, “I thought it best for me to tender my resignation from the Committee.”
Hon. Fraser said he submitted his resignation in ample time to allow someone else to be appointed. He showered praises and endorsement on Hon. Fahie and told the HOA that he has worked with Fahie “on a previous PAC and he knows he is quite capable and will do a good job as anyone.”
Leader of the Opposition Hon. O’Neal’s version
In his contribution to the motion to replace Hon. Fahie with Hon. Fraser, Leader of the Opposition and Virgin Islands Party Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE had another twist.
Hon. O’Neal told the public that Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser “never attended any meetings since being nominated to the Public Accounts Committee”.
Further, the Leader of the Opposition reported that Hon. Fraser went to his office “suggesting that Hon. Fahie be on the Committee,” and Hon. O’Neal told Hon. Fraser “according to the rules only three Opposition members could be on the Committee and if he wanted Fahie on then he [Fraser] would not be there.”
Hon. O’Neal told the HOA that what Hon. Fraser said to him a year and months ago is what he wanted and nobody can be vexed with Hon. Fraser because “he is a big man.”
The Ninth District Representative warned that “the Public Accounts Committee is not a committee of spite or for trying to get at people or put people in trouble and if there is a problem there is a process”.
The Virgin Islands Party Leader, while confirming that the PAC has a copy of the Auditor General’s Report on the Ports Development project, also said that his Committee did not ask the Auditor General to do a search or check of any matter relating to the Ports Project.
However, he said the report is being examined by his committee and was to continue this week but was interrupted by the HOA sitting. He said persons have been summoned to come before the Committee, but “I cannot tell you what will happen, we have to wait and examine other persons.”
He said he remember in another case some had called “for blood but there was no blood there”, however, as it relates to the current report on the Ports Project, Hon. O’Neal told the HOA “we have to examine the facts and then bring it before this House”.
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’s 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. The PAC is a five member committee with three from the Opposition and two from Government. In the case where one Member is not present at a meeting and it becomes a tie, the Opposition Leader can cast an extra vote to break the tie.
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59 Responses to “Hons. Fraser & O’Neal clash in HOA over PAC!”
Fraser popular? The reason he will never be top dog is that he is so unpopular.
Pic***ing too full of himself. His face always looks like he don't want to be bothered and wish he were somewhere else. He never smile or address people eq**lly.
Ralph time is up even if the leader isn't Fraser, Ralph's time as head is up.
You a true leader!
go sit down B***es PR