By Sue-Ann Wayow
WHAT questions are the Prime Minister answering today?
This was the question asked by Opposition Chief Whip David Lee in Parliament on Tuesday as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley stated Prime Minister’s Questions were not on the Order Paper.
Dr Rowley was absent from the last House of Representatives sitting.
During the Prime Minister Question segment, the first question was asked by Member of Parliament for Oropouche West Davendranath Tancoo.
Tancoo asked, “In light of the discrepancies contained in the Auditor General’s Report for 2020 relating to the Covid-19 grants, could the Prime Minister indicate whether an urgent investigation will be undertaken?”
This was the prime minister’s response:
“At the last sitting Madam Speaker of the House, I did seek your permission to be absent and that permission was granted and I gave the undertaking to my colleagues that those questions would have been answered today.
“I just want to remind the House that today on the Order Paper is not Prime Minister’s Question time and therefore the new questions attached to the Order Paper today would not… I would answer them to the best of my ability but they do not form part of the Prime Minister’s Question time on notice because I have only just received them.”
Dr Rowley continued speaking but was then interrupted by Lee who asked House Speaker Brigid Annisette-George for clarification on those statements because he had in hand a list of questions on the Order Paper that were already approved.
Annisette-George said the prime minister said what he had to say and she was unaware of any further clarification that was needed.
Lee said, “Madam Speaker, we have ten Prime Minister’s Questions on the Order Paper here today.
“Is it that these ten questions are not being answered by the Prime Minister?”
Dr Rowley said, “Madam Speaker, I am sure that English is still the language of the Parliament so I proceed.”
Lee again interrupted, “Madam Speaker. I seek clarification again please. What questions are the Prime Minister answering today?”
Annisette-George asked if the House could proceed reminding members that the segment time was 30 minutes only and Tancoo maintained his question relating to the Auditor General’s report.
Dr Rowley responded, “The Auditor General does an ongoing exercise in reviewing government’s operations and reports on the ongoing Covid-19 grants are treated in the normal way and at this time there is no immediate involvement of an urgent investigation.”
He added, “However, all ministries and departments to which reference is made by the Auditor General requiring adjustments or improvements in the operations are on the way.”
Tancoo further pressed Dr Rowley.
“Will an investigation be undertaken to hold someone responsible for the fact that $8.115million has been inappropriately spent when 7,000 applicants were not able to get a salary relief grant?” he asked.
And Rowley responded, “Madam Speaker, in the ongoing work of departments concerned in the various ministries and the departments, to the extent that those matters are identifiable and persons are to be held accountable, they will be held accountable, with or without the fulminations of my colleague from wherever he is from.”
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