THE EDITOR, Sir:
It was unfortunate that your story headlined "Missing in Action" published in the Sunday Gleaner of May 1, 2005, sought to impugn the Most Honourable Prime Minister for not attending the meetings of the Standing Finance Committee of the House during the consideration of the current Estimates of Expenditure.
The fact is that it is a standing convention of Parliament that the Prime Minister does not attend meetings of the Standing Finance Committee save and except in those situations where the Prime Minister also performs the duties of Minister of Finance. Neither does the Prime Minister sit on other committees of Parliament. Unfortunately your reporter did not acquaint himself with these conventions and therefore left the erroneous impression that the Prime Minister was in dereliction of his parliamentary duties. Quite to the contrary, the records will show that Prime Minister Patterson has been among the most conscientious of parliamentarians, attending with regularity every parliamentary sitting, except on those occasions when he may be travelling on official business.
I am, etc.,
PETER D. PHILLIPS, PhD MP
Minister of National Security and
Leader of the House of Representatives
