Speaker wants to make PM answer questions

House Speaker Halson Moultrie said yesterday that he is minded to introduce in the House of Assembly a prime minister’s question time where the prime minister will be obligated to answer questions put to him by any member of Parliament.

However, it is unclear what provision in law or in the House rules Moultrie can rely on to introduce a prime minister’s question time on the House agenda.

“I’m so happy that we have set a precedent here today where, voluntarily, the members have agreed to answer questions,” Moultrie said during debate on the mid-year budget.

“Now, this is the first Wednesday in the month and next Wednesday will be the second Wednesday.

“Now, this debate is expected to continue into next Wednesday. So, I want to put everyone on notice that the questions that are on the agenda be prepared to answer them.

“As a matter of fact, the chair is also minded to introduce a prime minister’s question time so that the prime minister will be obligated to answer questions put to him by any member, not necessarily the opposition. When we examine the mature democracies of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, this is the way democracy unfolds.

“Our constitution calls for the executive branch to be answerable and accountable to the Parliament, Article 72.”

Article 72 states, “There shall be a Cabinet for The Bahamas which shall have the general direction and control of the government of The Bahamas and shall be collectively responsible thereof to Parliament.”

Last week, Moultrie said that the House rule that allows the government to circumvent question time is unconstitutional.

“I am giving notice that the rules will be interpreted in such a way that members will be given the opportunity to ask questions and to answer questions,” he said.

Rule 39(1) outlines the order of business of each sitting of Parliament. Rule 39(2) states that unless the House determines otherwise, the House shall proceed, on the second Wednesday in each month, with the agenda that allows for question time.

The government has, on at least two occasions, been challenged on question time. The first time was on December 12, 2018, and the other was last month. Both times, the government moved a motion that the House continue with its normal agenda and not the agenda outlined for the second Wednesday of each month.

PAC

Moultrie also called on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to report to Parliament.

“That does not exempt, in my estimation, the opposition who has responsibility for the PAC,” he said.

“The PAC needs to answer to the Bahamian people as to why there has been no review or investigation of the close to 50 auditor general reports that have been tabled by this speaker and referred to that committee.

“That committee has the oversight function to maintain the responsibility of the executive to answer for their stewardship of the taxpayers’ money and their stewardship of the assets of the Bahamian citizens.

“Moving forward, I expect to hear from the PAC with respect to those documents that were tabled that raises questions of impropriety, malfeasance, corruption, plunder.

“They have all been tabled in this session.”

Exumas and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper responded, “I just wish to advise that the PAC, subsequent to your ruling, is working vigorously.

“We met yesterday and we will be requesting certain information. So, I wish to give you the assurances on behalf of the leader, the chairman of the PAC, that work is actively underway.”

Moultrie recently overturned his predecessor’s decision to limit the powers of the PAC back in May 2015.

The ruling, which was handed down by then-House Speaker Dr. Kendal Major, came as the PAC was investigating the auditor general’s report on the Urban Renewal program. Among other things, Major ruled that because the report was not tabled in the House of Assembly, the PAC cannot take “cognizance of the report”.

He also ruled that PAC’s powers to send for persons, papers and records may only be exercised “in the performance of its functions delegated by the House and subject to any parliamentary or statutory limitations that may apply”.

But Moultrie ruled that Major’s decision was “undemocratic and unconstitutional” and overturned it.

The speaker said yesterday that he expects the executive to be responsible to The Bahamian people by answering the questions put to it.

“In my estimation, if we are accountable and we are transparent, and this is on both sides, there should be no issue with answering questions,” he said.

“I want everyone to be put on notice that the questions will be answered because I intend to ask them even if you don’t. The people of The Bahamas deserve nothing less.”

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