Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle is calling for a change in the composition of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), accusing government members of deliberately blocking the committee’s work by failing to attend scheduled meetings.

Speaking on Observer AM on Friday, Pringle said the current structure—three government MPs and two opposition MPs—gives the ruling party the power to prevent the committee from meeting by simply withholding attendance.

“The way the committee is currently structured gives the government the ability to block meetings simply by not showing up,” he said. “That is a serious flaw in the system and a threat to transparency.”

Pringle renewed his call for a reconstitution of the PAC to include three opposition members and two government members, which he believes would allow the committee to function even if government MPs are unavailable due to travel or other duties.

The most recent PAC meeting, scheduled for June 5, was postponed after failing to meet the minimum quorum of three members. Pringle, along with Barbuda MP Trevor Walker, was present, but the three government-appointed members were absent. He said only two—Hon. Daryll Matthew and Hon. Anthony Smith Jr.—provided advance notice of travel, while no response was received from Hon. Melford Nicholas.

“This is not the first time this has happened,” Pringle said. “And unless we change the composition of the committee, it won’t be the last.”

The Public Accounts Committee is tasked with examining government spending and ensuring that public funds are being used appropriately. Pringle said the June meeting was expected to address several high-interest matters, including:

• the $27 million budgeted for the long-delayed government car park project,
• the ongoing dredging of St. John’s Harbour,
• rental expenses for the Prime Minister’s son, and
• the failure of statutory bodies to submit audited accounts.

Pringle said he invited members of the public and media to witness the meeting in a bid to foster greater transparency, but when it became clear the meeting could not proceed, he met with those gathered in the parliamentary gallery to explain the situation.

He said it was “deeply troubling” that heavily armed police were called to disperse what he described as a peaceful and informative discussion.

“It was never intended to be a formal PAC meeting,” Pringle clarified. “We were simply discussing how the committee works and why we couldn’t proceed. The public deserves to know these things.”

He confirmed that the meeting has been rescheduled for 3 July but remains uncertain whether the necessary quorum will be met unless the composition of the committee is revised.

“This is not just about politics,” Pringle said. “It’s about giving the people of Antigua and Barbuda the accountability they deserve.”