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Ministers get only refrigerator and stove for state homes
ERICA VIRTUE, Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, March 14, 2008
A $17-million repair bill for the residences of government ministers, ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries has left the Bruce Golding-led Government with no cash to buy furniture, except for a refrigerator and a stove each, for state residences.
As a result, the occupants have been told to find their own furniture for the residences assigned to them.
Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton, who has portfolio responsibility for the houses and lands owned by the Government, yesterday confirmed that the decision to refurbish the houses and provide only the bare minimum was taken with the backing of the prime minister and the commissioner of lands, Elizabeth Steer.
"No money was, or has been allocated for the furnishing of any house. The only thing that we have been given some flexibility with is a fridge and stove," Tufton told the Observer.
The Golding government, which has 15 ministers, 13 state ministers and two parliamentary secretaries, all of whom are entitled to fully or semi-furnished houses, appears to be footing their own bills for personal effects as some have already moved into completed residences.
Tufton said while the decision not to provide any money for furnishings was not a policy position (as it was not discussed with Cabinet) the weight of the repair bill dried up funds that could have been so allocated.
He said the commissioner of lands has, to date, repaired 11 properties, some in need of more repairs than others. He said in many instances occupancy was not permitted as the condition of the houses had deteriorated from lack of maintenance.
"As you would have read from a previous article, the condition of the houses were terrible," said Tufton. "What we have been instructed to do is to repair the structures, but the ministers will have to provide their own furniture."
"So there won't be any money for any Persian rugs," Tufton quipped, in an obvious reference to the 1991 furniture scandal which saw thousands of dollars being used to add personal furnishings to houses occupied by government ministers in the Michael Manley administration.
Public funds were used in one instance to outfit 24-carat gold-plated pipes for the kitchen sink of a former state minister.
Monies were also squandered on Persian rugs and elaborate furnishings with some of the pieces of furniture priced higher than the $150,000 that was allotted for total furnishings at that time.
It was the first of numerous scandals that rocked the former administration since it took power in 1989 until 2007 when it lost the general elections.
Only few of the then ministers, including Burchell Whiteman, adhered to the allocations.
It was unclear if any allocations will be made in the upcoming budget for reimbursements to members of the current Government.
ERICA VIRTUE, Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, March 14, 2008
A $17-million repair bill for the residences of government ministers, ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries has left the Bruce Golding-led Government with no cash to buy furniture, except for a refrigerator and a stove each, for state residences.
As a result, the occupants have been told to find their own furniture for the residences assigned to them.
Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton, who has portfolio responsibility for the houses and lands owned by the Government, yesterday confirmed that the decision to refurbish the houses and provide only the bare minimum was taken with the backing of the prime minister and the commissioner of lands, Elizabeth Steer.
"No money was, or has been allocated for the furnishing of any house. The only thing that we have been given some flexibility with is a fridge and stove," Tufton told the Observer.
The Golding government, which has 15 ministers, 13 state ministers and two parliamentary secretaries, all of whom are entitled to fully or semi-furnished houses, appears to be footing their own bills for personal effects as some have already moved into completed residences.
Tufton said while the decision not to provide any money for furnishings was not a policy position (as it was not discussed with Cabinet) the weight of the repair bill dried up funds that could have been so allocated.
He said the commissioner of lands has, to date, repaired 11 properties, some in need of more repairs than others. He said in many instances occupancy was not permitted as the condition of the houses had deteriorated from lack of maintenance.
"As you would have read from a previous article, the condition of the houses were terrible," said Tufton. "What we have been instructed to do is to repair the structures, but the ministers will have to provide their own furniture."
"So there won't be any money for any Persian rugs," Tufton quipped, in an obvious reference to the 1991 furniture scandal which saw thousands of dollars being used to add personal furnishings to houses occupied by government ministers in the Michael Manley administration.
Public funds were used in one instance to outfit 24-carat gold-plated pipes for the kitchen sink of a former state minister.
Monies were also squandered on Persian rugs and elaborate furnishings with some of the pieces of furniture priced higher than the $150,000 that was allotted for total furnishings at that time.
It was the first of numerous scandals that rocked the former administration since it took power in 1989 until 2007 when it lost the general elections.
Only few of the then ministers, including Burchell Whiteman, adhered to the allocations.
It was unclear if any allocations will be made in the upcoming budget for reimbursements to members of the current Government.
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