KINGSTON, Jamaica. April 11, 2024:The People's National Party Youth Organization (PNPYO) has called on Finance Minister Nigel Clarke to take accountability for, and offer a full explanation on the errors in the budget, which necessitated an emergency sitting of Parliament on April 10, 2024.
In his animated budget presentation, Minister Clarke trumpeted the government’s trillion dollar budget which was approved in both houses. Less than two weeks later, Parliamentarians were called back to make amendments to the budget, after being advised that the statutory expenditures were voted on in contravention of the law as the Constitution stipulates that statutory expenditures shall not be voted on by the House of Representatives.
The PNPYO's junior spokesman on Finance Cleveland Tomlinson, said the PNPYO is concerned that even in the face of such an error, the Minister of Finance was absent from Parliament on Tuesday and was not represented by his Junior Minister who may have been able to provide answers, but was instead represented by the Minister of Education who did not seem to know the answer to anything.
The Minister of Finance must explain this unprecedented foul up under his watch and fully explain to Jamaicans what happened, how it happened, what measures are being put in place to ensure that a foul up of this nature does not happen again. He must further state what implications this foul up, under his watch, will have on the ability of these agencies to carry out their responsibilities.
We are advised that it is possible that salary and pension payments may be delayed. What measures are being put in place to remedy the possible implications?
The sitting also brought to the forefront an unsettling incident involving Government MP Everald Warmington, whose unfounded accusations against the Auditor General not only underscores a disconcerting pattern of blame-shifting towards civil servants but also questions the integrity of governance.
The responsibility for reviewing and amending the Appropriations Act lies not with the independent constitutional office of the Auditor General but with the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.
This misdirection not only showcases a misunderstanding of the roles within our government but an unwillingness on the part of the government to take accountability.
The PNPYO stands firm in its belief that Minister Clarke must hasten to right this blunder instead of passing the buck.
It is crucial for the government to adopt a stance of mutual respect and cooperation, both amongst its members and in its interactions with civil servants, to guarantee the smooth operation of our democratic processes and the efficient provision of services to the Jamaican populace
Jamaicans deserve a government that upholds the highest standards of good governance and statesmanship.
The PNPYO is pleased that the PNP is committed to charting a course towards a governance model that is not only effective but also embodies respect, inclusivity, and the values and aspirations of all Jamaicans.
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