Jack: THA entitled to reallocate funds

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Executive Council is empowered to determine how its parliamentary appropriation is allocated in keeping with its policy mandate and strategic direction.

So said Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary of Finance and the Economy Joel Jack in an interview with Newsday at his office on Tuesday.

He was responding to Senator Wade Mark’s comments at the Public Administration and Appropriation Committee (PAAC) meeting on April 10 about the assembly’s use of its allocation.

Mark is reported as saying that he was “astounded” to hear that the assembly’s Executive Council had reallocated parliamentary budget allocations for projects not approved in the original estimates, when the committee met with THA officials at the Parliament building in Port of Spain.

THA chief administrator Raye Sandy ws reported as saying that after the budget is read, the Executive Council decides how funds will be spent.

Mark said he was concerned about Sandy’s “interesting statement” and asked for clarity.

Jack told Newsday, “The assembly," he said, "similar to all government ministries, can reallocate and redistribute their parliamentary funding to effect and complete their work programme within any fiscal year.

“This is in accordance with a Ministry of Finance and Planning Circular dated February 17, 1982: all ministries and departments are allowed to redistribute or reallocate its parliamentary appropriations among various items of expenditure, in an effort to achieve their key strategic objectives without parliamentary approval. This is done primarily by utilisation of the mechanisms of virement and/or transfer of funds.”

He said this was a well-known fact and established procedure within ministries and the THA.

“Parliamentary approval is required when a variation of appropriation is sought. This is usually considered during the Mid-Year Review in Parliament.

“It is within this context the Executive Council determines and approves the THA’s priority areas to which funding is reallocated in keeping with its policy mandate,” he said.

He said additionally, Act 40 of 1996, Section 25 outlines the responsibility of the THA.

“It states: 'Without prejudice to section 75(1) of the Constitution, the assembly shall, in relation to Tobago, be responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy in respect of the matters set out in the Fifth Schedule.

“For the better performance of its functions, the assembly is hereby empowered to do all such acts and take all such steps as may be necessary for, or incidental to the exercise of its powers or for the discharge of its duties,” he said adding that Section 34 (1) of the THA Act says inter alia that the Executive Council shall be responsible for the carrying out of the functions of the assembly.