Government spent $1.3 billion unconstitutionally, Supreme Court ruled

Judgment was delivered today by Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin, in the lawsuit filed by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. John Briceño and Cayo South area representative, Hon. Julius Espat, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, against Prime Minister Dean Barrow, as Minister of Finance and Financial Secretary, Joseph Waight.
The Claimant’s case was that the government had spent public moneys without parliamentary approval. The remedy that they were seeking from the court was a restraining order to stop the unauthorized spending.
Chief Justice Benjamin ruled that $1.3 billion that was spent by the government through supplementary allocation, was spent without parliament’s approval and was therefore unconstitutional.
Attorney for the claimants, Eamon Courtenay, S.C. told reporters after the judgment that the government wa spending public moneies, “Like they were running a panades shop.”
The injunction that the Opposition parliamentarians sought was not immediately granted.
The court gave PM Barrow six months fix the problem, through a constitutional amendment.
To accomplish a constitutional amendment, the government side would need the support of the Opposition.
PUP Leader Briceño said that the Opposition would have to carefully study whatever proposed amendment the government put forward.
Financial Secretary, Joseph Waight told reporters that he was satisfied with the court’s decision and that government will respect the court’s ruling.