Absentee PAAC members to be axed

At least one of the Member of Parliament, who has been named among members of Parliament's Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) who are habitually absent from meetings, has sought to clear the air about his status on the Committee.

Ian Hayles says he has opted for his membership on the Committee to be rescinded when Parliament resumes from the summer recess.

According to Mr. Hayles, he had indicated to Derrick Kellier, Leader of Opposition Business in Parliament, nearly three months ago, that the schedule meetings of the PAAC clashes with his constituency office hours and as, such he cannot serve on the Committee.

Dr. Wykham McNiel, PAAC Chairman, says he will be recommending that absentee members be axed from the Committee when the House of Representatives resumes in a week's time.

He says it is unfair for the entire workload to be shouldered by the members who faithfully attend sittings.

"We have 15 members and of that 15, only about nine or 10 of them always come to the meetings, three do not come while the other three show up from time to time. We’re going to speak to both the Leader of Government and Opposition Business to ensure that we get members on the Committee who are active because it puts so much work load on members who faithfully attend meetings," Dr. McNeil said.