The opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) is demanding a fundamental restructuring of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), contending that the body's current composition prevents it from serving as an effective check on government spending.
According to Antigua Observer, UPP Senator Jonathan Wehner made the case during an appearance on Observer Radio, arguing that the PAC as presently structured is unable to fulfil its core mandate of providing genuine oversight of public finances.
Wehner's call for reform centres on the committee's composition, which the UPP argues is weighted in favour of the governing party, undermining the PAC's independence and its ability to hold the administration accountable for how taxpayer funds are managed.
The Public Accounts Committee is constitutionally mandated to scrutinise government expenditure and ensure fiscal responsibility. Opposition parties across many parliamentary democracies have long argued that such committees function most effectively when chaired or majority-staffed by opposition members.
The UPP's push for restructuring reflects broader concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of public funds in Antigua and Barbuda. Senator Wehner's comments signal that the opposition intends to keep pressure on the government over the issue as parliamentary proceedings continue.
