We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) has accused the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government of misusing public funds, following the tabling of Financial Paper No. 2 of 2025 in the National Assembly.
In a statement, WIN said the financial paper shows that the Minister within the Ministry of Finance sought parliamentary approval on 26 January 2026 for $18.821 billion already spent from the Contingencies Fund between 18 November and 16 December 2025—after the close of the fiscal year.
WIN contended that this action violates the Fiscal Management and Accountability (FMA) Act, which stipulates that all budgetary appropriations lapse on 31 December and that unspent balances must be returned to the Consolidated Fund. The organisation argued that Parliament should have been convened before year-end to approve a Supplementary Estimate, rather than attempting to approve the expenditure retroactively.
“The failure to convene Parliament before year-end to approve a Supplementary Estimate, and the subsequent attempt to retroactively regularise this expenditure, constitutes improper financial management and abuse of the Contingencies Fund,” WIN said.
The Contingencies Fund is intended under the FMA Act to finance urgent and unforeseen expenditure, subject to subsequent parliamentary approval. WIN maintained that the procedure followed in this instance undermines the role of Parliament in overseeing public spending.
The group also raised concerns about Auditor General Deodat Sharma, who has formally requested a two-year extension of his tenure. WIN noted that neither the Constitution nor the Audit Act provides for such an extension and that the mandatory retirement age of 68 applies to constitutional officeholders, including judges and the Auditor General.
WIN expressed concern over what it described as the Auditor General’s silence on the alleged breaches of financial law, particularly while seeking a discretionary decision from the Executive regarding his continued tenure. “This is of major concern to WIN as a violation of the law and abuse of power,” the statement said.
Summarising its position, WIN stated:
“Public monies were spent outside the law”
“Parliamentary approval was improperly delayed”
WIN called for “full accountability, strict adherence to the Constitution and the FMA Act, and the immediate correction of these abuses of the public purse.”
