The work of the parliamentary sector committee on natural resources is going relatively slowly and its vice-chairman, PNCR backbencher Abdul Kadir blames it on the lack of seriousness on the part of government ministers who have to respond to requests for information.

He says the non-response from the Prime Minister and the Head of the Presidential Secretariat to whom the committee had written seeking information to advance its work “represents an affront to and disregard for the parliamentary sectoral committee.”

However, Prime Minister Sam Hinds told Stabroek News that the delay in providing the committee with the information was due to the volume requested and not because of any disrespect.

He explained that he is at present reviewing the information provided to him by his staff and this would have been sent off the same day. However, he said that the information may not fully address the committee’s request, which did not identify specific reports but wanted reports about the sectors of his ministry which fall within its purview. Stabroek News was unable to reach Dr Roger Luncheon, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS).

Crops and Livestock Minister Satyadeow Sawh who is also acting as Agriculture Minister, told Stabroek News that he had written the committee pointing out that the information requested about land should be directed to the Office of the President, which is responsible for the Lands and Surveys Commission.

He said too that regarding the forestry sector, he had indicated in his letter that he was copying his reply to the Commissioner of Forests requesting him to provide to the best of his ability the information requested.

The Minister said that he was aware that the Commissioner of Forests was out of the country last week, but he has since returned and the information would be provided shortly.

Committee chairman Odinga Lumumba, who is aware of the problem, told Stabroek News that he had made direct contact with the Prime Minister and Dr Luncheon and had been given a commitment that the documents requested would be provided shortly.

Kadir told Stabroek News that the committee had mandated the chairman and himself to do all that was necessary to ensure the replies were received from the various ministers and he expected to obtain them in good time before the committee’s next meeting scheduled for September 17. Members could then have the opportunity of studying them before coming to the meeting.

Kadir explained that at its last meeting on July 25, it was agreed to request of the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Agriculture, Housing and Water in addition to the HPS information pertaining to their work which comes under the purview of the committee. He said that letters were sent to the Prime Minister and his ministerial colleagues and the HPS requesting that they provide the information by August 7.

Kadir explained that in line with its mandate, the committee must have information about the spheres of operation of the ministries it monitors and their administrative structures.

But it was very disappointing, Kadir noted, that as of last Thursday only Housing Minister Shaik Baksh had responded, although that response “really does not adequately address the questions asked and does not give the level of information required so that the committee can work effectively.”

He said that the committee also received last Thursday some documentation from the Minister of Agriculture, “which equally did not satisfy the request.”

“I think generally the level of replies in terms of quality and timeliness does not reflect the level of seriousness which should be accompanying this whole issue,” he said.

Kadir said that it must be recognised that it is essential for the committee to operate in a knowledge- based manner and its decisions must be informed ones. As such, he said the committee is prioritizing its work which “has to be based on a general overview of all of the different sectors within the [purview of the] natural resources committee and based on our analysis of needs and scope a decision is expected to be made.”

The natural resources committee was one of the four sector committees created by the amendments to the constitution and the committees are mandated to monitor the implementation of government’s policies and programmes. The committees are empowered to request information of ministers as well as call on them to appear before it. They can also seek the advice of experts to assist in the assessment of government’s implementation of its policies and programmes.