Minister Clarifies Ministry's Compliance with Public Finance Act

In a parliamentary session on October 22nd, Hon Erica Stanford, the Minister of Education, addressed concerns about the ministry’s adherence to financial appropriations for school transport assistance. The discussion emerged from an amended response to oral questions.

Initially, Minister Stanford stated that the Ministry of Education might be operating outside its appropriation, potentially breaching the Public Finance Act. This led her to seek leave for a personal explanation during the session to correct her statement.

In her clarification, Minister Stanford explained that the ministry had advised her that not conducting planned route reviews could lead to a breach of the Public Finance Act. She emphasized that because these reviews are currently underway, the ministry is operating within its appropriation and in compliance with legal requirements.

The correction underscored the proactive steps taken by the Ministry of Education to ensure adherence to fiscal regulations through active review processes. This move highlighted the importance of maintaining transparency and accountability in government operations.

During the session, leave was granted for Minister Stanford to make her personal explanation without any objections. The episode served as a reminder of the complexities involved in managing public funds and emphasized the role of parliamentary oversight in ensuring governmental compliance with statutory requirements.