P.A.C DISAPPOINTED OVER NON-ATTENDANCE OF SOEs TO HEARINGS
Chair of the Public Account Committee Rick Hou. Photo credit: Courtesy of Pacific Policy.
The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committees has uttered the PAC’s profound disappointment with the Solomon Islands Ports Authority for not turning up to the hearings when summoned.
PAC Chairman Mr Rick Hou says this attitude is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated, saying Board members and senior management of all SOEs must understand, PAC hearings or any Parliamentary Committee are an obligation under the constitution.
He says SOEs must understand that in terms of the legislation under which they operate SOEs must report to Parliament, saying it is inadequate to send junior members of staff alone to the hearings.
“Board members and senior management of these SOEs must understand that hearings by the Public Accounts Committee or any Parliamentary Committee for that matter are an obligation under the Constitution for them to attend. I reiterate that attendance must be at the highest authority in the organisation. Both the Chairman and the CEO are obliged to attend. Sir they should remember, in terms of the legislation under which they operate, SOEs must report to Parliament, so it is inadequate to sent junior members of staff alone to the hearings.”
The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee made the comment this morning when delivering his speech on the 2015 Appropriation Bill 2015 Report.