ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Parliamentary Representative for All Saints West Chanlah Codrington is calling for regular meetings to be conducted for the smooth operation of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.

Codrington, who also called for the PAC to be reformed months ago, said regular meetings, would ensure that members of the body work closely together.

His call came yesterday as he reminded Chairman of the Antigua Labour Party Gaston Browne of the opposition’s responsibility to the committee.

By convention, the leader of the opposition has always served as chairman of the body, which is made up of two members from government, two from the opposition and one from Barbuda.

“I am letting the leader of the opposition know that I will be calling upon him to ensure that he has Public Accounts Committee meetings regularly. We cannot take the finances of taxpayers lightly and it is a matter which I hold very dear,” Codrington said.

He added, ”It’s a non-paying job and all the more reason why we should show some degree of seriousness and demonstrate that there is some integrity in ensuring that the tax payers get their value for money. We can not do that unless we have the committee functioning properly,” Codrington added.

According to the minister, the PAC is an oversight body, which monitors government spending to ensure transparency and accountability.

He said it is not a one-man show but a group of people coming together for the betterment of the country.