The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) held its first meeting of the year last week to discuss their working programme and reports from various Government Ministries.

According to a statement by Cook Islands Parliament, during the meeting, the Committee elected a deputy chairman, the Member of Parliament for Matavera, Vaitoti Tupa, to take on the responsibilities of the chairman in his absence. 

 The Public Accounts Committee is responsible for the scrutiny and review of:

• the Estimates of expenditure of the Government and its entities;

• the annual financial statements, the Audit Report on the annual financial statements of the Government, budget policy statements, fiscal strategy reports, economic and fiscal updates and annual reports and other financial reports required to be submitted to Parliament;

• ministerial and departmental financial management and performance;

• any legislation or petition relating to public finance, revenue or taxation;

• all accounts and expenditure of the Parliament (including expenditure and reports on constituency allowances);

Parliament will resume on May 24 when Prime Minister Mark Brown, who is also the country’s Finance Minister, will present the 2023/24 Budget.