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Public Accounts Committee meets tomorrow

Bermuda's Public Accounts Committee will meet tomorrow to try to catch up on issues highlighted in reports from former Auditor General Larry Dennis.

Chairman and Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards claims there is a chance Progressive Labour Party members will not show up — but that the meeting will go ahead anyway.

Mr. Richards says the PAC, which checks whether public money is spent properly, needs to discuss Mr. Dennis' findings so it can later move on to some of the more controversial matters of recent months, such as the spiralling cost of the Dockyard pier project.

"I have given them notice of the meeting; I have taken the decision that we have to proceed with this important committee," he said yesterday.

Questioning the PLP's enthusiasm to participate in PAC meetings, which take place several times a year, Mr. Richards said: "They just seem to think it can only happen when they want it to happen.

"We haven't had any meetings since Parliament resumed, but we have to continue. Quite frankly, we are still working on the former Auditor General's report.

"A lot of things have happened since then which will be of interest."

A new Government member will need to be found to sit on the panel, as previous member Zane DeSilva has been promoted to Minister without Portfolio, meaning he can no longer take part. Other members are Patrice Minors and Walter Lister of the PLP and Patricia Gordon-Pamplin of the United Bermuda Party.