The government requested $5.7 million to feed the Regiment, while
additional stocks of food were requested for the Coast Guard in
the sum of $4 million, which brings the total to a hefty $9.7 million.
Granted National Security Minister, Senator Martin Joseph, was not
a member of the Finance Committee, there was no explanation forthcoming
about the need for all that money to be spent on food alone, sources
say.
Instead, the lame reason tendered by one government MP was that
there was increase of military personnel in the fight against crime.
But why are they fattening crime fighters, instead of spending money
on more worthwhile ventures?
“There is no proper accountability in the Ministry of National
Security, so we can never know whether we are getting value for
money from these guys,” a highly placed source told TnT Mirror.
“The usual response that comes from the government is that
it’s a matter of highly sensitive security.
“On that basis, they even refused to answer how much food,
who is getting the food and how often they will be fed.
“This, ironically is in sharp contrast to the figure of $5
million which was requested for outstanding overtime payments to
the police.
“So it’s a ridiculous thing that they can spend more
money on feeding the Army and Coast Guard, who are hardly involved
in the fight against crime, at least not as involved as the police
who are getting half that amount for overtime work,” the source
noted.
“In keeping with the lack of transparency at the Ministry
of National Security, they have also requested $5.8 million more
for prison transportation.
“When the opposition questioned why they are pumping more
money into a service that is not improving and how the vans are
in a really poor state, nobody provided an answer.
“Nobody was willing to say whether that money will be going
to Amalgamated Services Limited which has the contract for prison
transportation,” our informant insisted.
He continued: “Also, falling under National Security was a
request for $4.8 million to pay telephone arrears.
“In another blatant case this Ministry ask for $16 million
one way and $20 million in another place for the same thing; to
fund the automation of passports.
“So can you imagine that if the documents were not scrutinised
properly that would have fallen through the cracks and we are talking
millions of dollars here?” he asked, incredulously.
“In addition to all of the above, the Ministry of National
Security requested an additional $41 million for the Special Anti-Crime
Unit (SAUTT), but no one was able to say where that money will be
going,” he added.
“In another instance they simply asked for $33 million to
expand the fight against crime without giving simple details on
whether it would be spent on manpower or equipment.
“But someone must answer about all this spending on National
Security, especially when we are clearly not seeing the returns
since crime is still the biggest humbug in this country!”
our source insisted.
Meantime, Mirror understands the Ministries of Finance, Education
and Energy will get the biggest chunk of the billions which the
House of Representatives was expected to approve last Friday.
|
