By: Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul has accused Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, of improperly interfering in the preparation of budget submissions made by the country’s constitutional agencies.
Speaking at an APNU + PNC/R press conference on November 14, 2025, Mahipaul claimed that several agencies reported that while their 2026 budget proposals must be submitted directly to the Minister of Finance, Minister Teixeira has allegedly been reviewing and altering those submissions before they reach the Finance Ministry.
Mahipaul argued that while the Finance Minister is legally empowered to adjust final allocations based on the country’s fiscal limits, no government minister should influence or edit the submissions prepared by constitutional agencies.
“If a constitutional agency requests $9 billion and the Minister of Finance determines that only $8 billion can be afforded, then the Minister of Finance allocates the $8 billion. But the submissions must not be interfered with by Minister Gail Teixeira,” Mahipaul stated.
He further claimed that the alleged involvement by Minister Teixeira represents an attempt to manipulate or direct independent agencies, which he described as a violation of their autonomy.
“Let the constitutional agencies make their submissions. Whatever they request, the government will determine how much can be facilitated — all or some. But no minister must interfere with their submissions,” Mahipaul stressed.
The opposition MP argued that constitutional agencies exist to safeguard transparency, accountability, and good governance — and political interference erodes those principles. He suggested that if the government wants to assume such control, it should formally reclassify those agencies as subvention bodies under ministerial authority.
When contacted for a response, the Ministry’s communications personnel stated that Minister Teixeira was unaware of Mahipaul’s claims and could not offer a comment at this time.
Mahipaul maintains that the alleged interference threatens the independence of key democratic institutions.
