Parliamentary committees and their memberships
Committees
Public Accounts Committee
Chair: Dr. Ellis Lorenzo Webster
<h2>Public Accounts Committee</h2><p>The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) serves as a cornerstone of transparency and fiscal oversight in the Assembly. This standing committee consists of three to five Members drawn from both Government and Opposition, with an Opposition Member serving as Chairman to ensure independent scrutiny of public finances.</p><p><strong>Core Responsibilities</strong></p><p>Under the House of Assembly (Procedure) Rules, the Public Accounts Committee's duties include:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Verifying expenditure compliance</strong> - ensuring that authorized expenditure during each financial year has been applied to purposes prescribed by the Assembly.</p></li><li><p><strong>Scrutinizing financial irregularities</strong> - investigating causes of excess expenditure and verifying applications of savings on authorized items.</p></li><li><p><strong>Conducting comprehensive examinations</strong> - making effective examination of public accounts across all government departments and agencies.</p></li><li><p><strong>Holding departments accountable</strong> - summoning public officers to provide information, explanations, or produce records and documents.</p></li><li><p><strong>Promoting fiscal discipline</strong> - recommending corrective actions to improve financial governance.</p></li><li><p><strong>Ensuring transparency</strong> - submitting regular reports to the Assembly for public scrutiny.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Powers and Authority</strong></p><p>The Committee possesses significant authority to fulfill its oversight mandate:</p><ul><li><p>Power to summon any public officer for testimony or documentation</p></li><li><p>Authority to appoint specialist advisers for complex financial matters</p></li><li><p>Access to all government financial records and accounts</p></li><li><p>Ability to compel cooperation from departments and agencies</p></li></ul><p><strong>Accountability and Reporting</strong></p><p>The Public Accounts Committee submits its findings to the Assembly through formal reports. When the Assembly adopts a PAC report, the Government must respond in writing within six weeks, ensuring timely accountability and follow-through on recommendations.</p><p><strong>Democratic Oversight</strong></p><p>Through rigorous, independent oversight, the Public Accounts Committee empowers the Assembly to monitor financial decisions effectively, builds public trust in government spending, and ensures responsible stewardship of public resources. This vital work protects taxpayer interests while promoting transparency and accountability in the management of Anguilla's public finances.</p>
members
Administration Committee
Chair: Ms. Tara Carta
<h2>Administration Committee</h2><p>Chaired by the Speaker and consisting of three to five Members from both sides of the Assembly, the Administration Committee serves as the backbone of the Assembly's day-to-day operations. This committee considers services provided for and by the Assembly and makes recommendations to the Clerk and Speaker on operational matters.</p><p>The Administration Committee ensures the internal strength and efficiency of the Assembly by focusing on:</p><ul><li><p>Enhancing services for Members, staff, and visitors to support effective parliamentary work</p></li><li><p>Overseeing internal governance and operations to maintain institutional standards</p></li><li><p>Managing operational resources while ensuring financial responsibility through collaboration with the Public Accounts Committee</p></li><li><p>Supporting legislative work by maintaining a well-functioning parliamentary environment</p></li><li><p>Continuous improvement of Assembly facilities, procedures, and support systems</p></li></ul><p><strong>Financial Oversight Integration</strong></p><p>Any recommendations by the Administration Committee that would incur additional expenditure must also be reviewed by the Public Accounts Committee, ensuring fiscal responsibility and proper oversight of Assembly resources.</p><p><strong>Operational Impact</strong></p><p>While often working behind the scenes, the Administration Committee's decisions directly affect the Assembly's capacity to serve the people of Anguilla effectively. From ensuring adequate facilities for public engagement to maintaining systems that support legislative processes, this committee's work enables all other parliamentary functions to operate smoothly.</p><p>The committee receives secretarial and administrative support from the Clerk's office and reports its findings and recommendations to the Assembly as needed, maintaining transparency in its stewardship of the institution's operational needs.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://houseofassembly.ai/standing-committees/administration-committee/#">Administration Committee Terms of Reference</a><br><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://houseofassembly.ai/standing-committees/administration-committee/#">Anguilla House of Assembly Strategic Plan</a>werfwefevfcef</p>
members