Mercelina cites legal and contractual concerns, offers a confidential parliamentary discussion and later confirms that a written response will be provided.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina has told Parliament that inquiries into VSA consultant agreements are ongoing, preventing the ministry from publicly answering certain questions about the contracts at this stage.
Speaking on behalf of VSA Minister Claret Connor, Mercelina said disclosure could affect the integrity and outcome of the inquiries, as well as the country’s contractual and legal position and that of the parties involved.
The response followed questions from MP Veronica Jansen-Webster about consultant agreements, changes in contract expenditure and contracts categorized as “other.”
Confidential Session Offered
Mercelina said the decision to withhold details publicly did not reflect unwillingness to be transparent or accountable.
He said Parliament would be fully informed once the inquiries concluded and information could be shared without prejudice.
He also offered a closed, confidential session if Parliament wished to discuss the matter under its rules.
The responses did not identify the agreements involved, their values, the parties concerned or a date for completing the inquiries.
An inquiry does not itself establish wrongdoing, and Mercelina announced no findings in the supplied presentation.
York Seeks Clarity on Written Answers
MP Darryl York subsequently asked whether the refusal concerned only an answer on the microphone or whether Parliament would receive no answer at all.
Mercelina replied that an answer would be provided in writing.
That commitment distinguishes the public withholding of details from providing information to Parliament. However, the oral exchange did not establish how much detail the written response would contain or whether any material would remain confidential.
Question About Programme Reductions Remains
Jansen-Webster also asked which programmes within community development, family and humanitarian affairs were being reduced or discontinued.
Her question challenged why support for vulnerable families, seniors and the community appeared to be declining while consultancy expenditure increased.
Mercelina responded by listing structural initiatives: reviewing the financial aid ordinance, conducting a household expenditure study, researching unemployment benefits, pursuing pension reform, developing a social registry and preparing a seniors policy framework.
He said these initiatives would make assistance more targeted and sustainable.
However, that response did not identify the specific programmes being reduced or discontinued, their budget changes or the reasons for individual reductions.
The initiatives describe the ministry’s reform agenda. They do not, by themselves, resolve the comparison raised between consultancy spending and direct community support.
Parliament’s next opportunity to assess the issue will depend on the promised written answers and any confidential discussion that follows.
