Prime Minister Perry Christie at a recent press conference to discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday insisted that the government had checks and balances in place to handle the $150m hurricane relief money it intends to borrow, as he responded to critics who have expressed doubt that the Christie administration is capable of fiscal responsibility of the funds.

Mr. Christie said while there have been questions over how the government intends to manage the loan, these queries have ignored basic facts about his administration’s fiscal map.

In the House of Assembly on Wednesday, Free National Movement Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis called for the formation of a special committee to monitor how the government spends the $150m.

However, Mr. Christie maintained that the money will be well accounted for using measures that are already enshrined in law.

“The government is seeking to raise $150m in government debt using the authority of the Financial Administration and Audit Act,” Mr. Christie said during the House of Assembly’s morning session.

“That same authority governs the expenditure of all public funds. So again this is a facility that is being subjected to the Financial Administration Audit Act meaning the auditor general will be used.

“A question was also raised with respect to establishing a committee to oversee the use of funds. It is for me to say that all public expenditure is subject to the review of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the independent audit of the Office of the Attorney General.

“All of these audits are tabled in Parliament simultaneously. So again before the government sees an audit it is submitted to the Speaker and to colleagues who are on that PAC.”

He continued: “The same process would govern the use of those funds. All expenditure related to this storm will be accounted for in the government’s financial statement on an annual basis with the presentation of the budget.

“We will forecast our expenditure related to this programme and in the presentation of the financial statement of the government in the House (and) the auditor general will report on the use of these funds.”

On Wednesday, Dr. Minnis called for an independent committee to oversee the loan for the relief and rebuilding efforts of Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Joaquin.

While Dr. Minnis acknowledged that the funds were needed, he questioned the government’s ability to properly manage the money.

He later told The Nassau Guardian: “We agree that there is mass devastation when we look at Grand Bahama, Andros, and New Providence, especially the south. There is mass devastation.

“We agree homes were lost. We agree lives were changed. We agree businesses have been lost and we agree that it has attributed to unemployment. It needs to be fixed. People’s lives need to be changed and their homes need to be corrected.

“But this government has a terrible track record of transparency and accountability,” Dr. Minnis said.

By Khrisna Virgil, Tribune Deputy Chief Reporter

Click here to read more at The Tribune