AFTER being delayed for several months, the 2005/06 report of Auditor General Adrian Strachan has yet again been put on the backburner.

The report, which probes and highlights irregularities in state-run agencies, was tabled in the House of Representatives last financial year for address by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) but was delayed due to the nine-month-long probe into the cost overruns at Sandals Whitehouse.

Yesterday, members of the finance and planning ministry led by financial secretary Colin Bullock, were not allowed to throw any light on the findings of the Auditor General when government members argued that it was futile for the committee to complete its investigations and make a report to Parliament in the time before the pending general elections.

After a short but spirited discussion, government members outvoted opposition members four to two for the termination of the exercise.

But Opposition member Delroy Chuck said he was not convinced that the PAC could not formulate a report to Parliament in the time available before the general elections.

“It appears that the government members don’t want to do the people’s business. I’m surprised to hear that we really want to terminate the people’s business; this matter has been pending for quite some time. We were held up because of Sandals Whitehouse… it seems to me that if we can finish even the Ministry of Finance…I have seen PAC reports rushed,” Chuck argued.

He was, however, interrupted by Government Member John Junor who, in noting that they “won’t be able to”, said opposition members were to be blamed.

“That is what we kept saying to you all when you were delaying the Sandals report. Over and over we had the same questions being asked, the same documents being asked to be produced and we are now at a stage where this committee is not going to be able to report,” Junor noted.

Based on the Standing Orders of the House, once Parliament is dissolved the current committee becomes obsolete and a fresh committee will have to be formed.

“Once Parliament is dissolved it is finished. You have to go over the process totally. What is the purpose of having to repeat this exercise all over again?” Junor queried.

Concurring, colleague member KD Knight said it would be “futile”.

“It will be futile, Mr Chuck, you are wasting taxpayers’ money,” Knight pointed out.

Public Accounts Committee Chair Mike Henry said the matter would have to be shelved until the reconvening of the Houses of Parliament.

In a parting shot Henry said he could not ‘see the futility’ of the PAC beginning the probe. According to Henry, that was “ignoring the flagrant disregard for the power of Parliament and the strength of Parliament contained in the report about the Ministry of Finance”.

“I do believe the concern is contained in this report that needs to be addressed by Parliament that we should show more responsibility to that position and respect for the post …and I think it’s equally fair to the financial secretary and those in that ministry to be allowed to explain what lies here,” Henry said.

Retorting, Junor said the chairman and opposition members had an agenda.

“The chairman has an agenda, all of them have an agenda and we are not about to facilitate that agenda. I am not going to participate in an exercise in futility,” the outgoing MP for Central Manchester said.

The Auditor General has, on a number of occasions, expressed concerns over the delay of the report.