Speaker of the House of Keys appointed Chair of Commonwealth PACs

Juan Watterson will serve as CAPAC chair until 2026

Speaker of the House of Keys Juan Watterson has been appointed chair of the Commonwealth Association of Public Accounts Committees.

CAPAC is an organisation that aims to support parliamentary oversight, promotes transparency, and ensures value for money in public spending across member nations.

The Rushen MHK, who is a veteran Manx parliamentarian, says he is honoured to take on the role and looked forward to strengthening the work of public accounts committees across the Commonwealth.

He's pledged to enhance collaboration and equip committees with tools to promote financial accountability and public trust as part of efforts to hold governments to account.

As chair of Tynwald’s PAC for eight years Mr Watterson has overseen inquiries into key issues, including the Isle of Man’s health service, government decision-making during Covid-19, and the Liverpool Ferry Terminal project.

David Christopherson, a former chair of Canada’s public accounts committee, praised Mr Watterson’s election calling it a testament to his commitment to robust financial governance and international accountability standards.

Speaker Watterson spoke to Christian Jones following the announcement: