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BY ALICIA DUNKLEY Observer staff reporter dunkleya@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, September 26, 2009
OPPOSITION Senator Basil Waite yesterday reduced the much touted Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to "nothing but a three-card trick", basing his dismissal on what he said was the absence of any guarantee for the sustainability of the fund.
The Senator made the comment during a debate in the Upper House on a private member's motion brought by Government Senator Dennis Meadows calling on the Government to enact appropriate legislation to establish a legal framework to govern the management of the CDF, and formulate and implement an 'aggressive public education programme' to inform the public and ensure transparency, among other things.
Meadows said while he understood that morale, integrity and fairness could not be legislated, a law would serve "to constrain men and women who often times show the propensity to be unreasonable". He added that a legal framework or the enactment of a Constituency Development Fund Act would allow for sanctions to be included to punish persons who violate the provision for their own benefit.
But, according to Waite, the Government had created a jam for itself by constantly reviewing the sum to be awarded to members of Parliament under the fund.
"How is it going to be made sustainable?" he asked. "It was announced in a campaign that it would be $150 million per constituency, then it became $40 million and now it is $20 million."
"Throughout our history, any fund that depends on the warrant of the minister of finance, there is nothing to guarantee the sustainability of that fund unless you are going to tie it to matching funds. Regardless of whatever legislation or guidelines is put in place to manage the fund, if you cannot see to the sustainability of the financing of the Constituency Development Fund, then it is nothing but a three-card trick," Waite said.
He further argued that there was confusion as to the real purpose of the CDF among the local authorities.
"What's the real purpose of the Constituency Development Fund? There is some amount of confusion. Is it a development fund? And, what is the definition of development in this case? Are we talking about new projects? Or is it that we are talking about back-to-school money, or cleaning drains or markets?" Waite queried, noting that these are local services that should be provided for by local authorities.
"We need to make a distinction. If it is a substitution for local services, what are we going to do with the Parish Councils? How are they going to be funded? Or if we are using the Constituency Development Fund as a replacement for local services, then why do we need the local authorities?" the opposition Senator said further.
He also questioned why, if there was truly a willingness to be transparent and accountable, members of the media are barred from attending meetings of the CDF Committee.
Government Senator Dr Ronald Robinson, in contributing to the debate said there was no question of the fund taking the place of the local authorities as it operated in liaison with local bodies.
"We are not about replacing or making them irrelevant as you are making them out to be," he noted.
Furthermore, Robinson said the CDF served to "restore the dignity of members of Parliament", who, in the past, "were reduced to beggars" in order to get funding to carry out their constituency projects.
"All the prime minister has sought to correct is to bring back dignity to the post of the member of Parliament," Robinson said.
"If it is a three-card trick, don't try and come and fool the country. If you believe it is something that is dishonest, don't participate in it! You don't have a moral obligation to participate," he added.
The Government last year allocated $2.4 billion for the CDF which when distributed among MPs, saw each member getting $40 million to undertake constituency projects.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...SAYS_WAITE.asp
Saturday, September 26, 2009
OPPOSITION Senator Basil Waite yesterday reduced the much touted Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to "nothing but a three-card trick", basing his dismissal on what he said was the absence of any guarantee for the sustainability of the fund.
The Senator made the comment during a debate in the Upper House on a private member's motion brought by Government Senator Dennis Meadows calling on the Government to enact appropriate legislation to establish a legal framework to govern the management of the CDF, and formulate and implement an 'aggressive public education programme' to inform the public and ensure transparency, among other things.
Meadows said while he understood that morale, integrity and fairness could not be legislated, a law would serve "to constrain men and women who often times show the propensity to be unreasonable". He added that a legal framework or the enactment of a Constituency Development Fund Act would allow for sanctions to be included to punish persons who violate the provision for their own benefit.
But, according to Waite, the Government had created a jam for itself by constantly reviewing the sum to be awarded to members of Parliament under the fund.
"How is it going to be made sustainable?" he asked. "It was announced in a campaign that it would be $150 million per constituency, then it became $40 million and now it is $20 million."
"Throughout our history, any fund that depends on the warrant of the minister of finance, there is nothing to guarantee the sustainability of that fund unless you are going to tie it to matching funds. Regardless of whatever legislation or guidelines is put in place to manage the fund, if you cannot see to the sustainability of the financing of the Constituency Development Fund, then it is nothing but a three-card trick," Waite said.
He further argued that there was confusion as to the real purpose of the CDF among the local authorities.
"What's the real purpose of the Constituency Development Fund? There is some amount of confusion. Is it a development fund? And, what is the definition of development in this case? Are we talking about new projects? Or is it that we are talking about back-to-school money, or cleaning drains or markets?" Waite queried, noting that these are local services that should be provided for by local authorities.
"We need to make a distinction. If it is a substitution for local services, what are we going to do with the Parish Councils? How are they going to be funded? Or if we are using the Constituency Development Fund as a replacement for local services, then why do we need the local authorities?" the opposition Senator said further.
He also questioned why, if there was truly a willingness to be transparent and accountable, members of the media are barred from attending meetings of the CDF Committee.
Government Senator Dr Ronald Robinson, in contributing to the debate said there was no question of the fund taking the place of the local authorities as it operated in liaison with local bodies.
"We are not about replacing or making them irrelevant as you are making them out to be," he noted.
Furthermore, Robinson said the CDF served to "restore the dignity of members of Parliament", who, in the past, "were reduced to beggars" in order to get funding to carry out their constituency projects.
"All the prime minister has sought to correct is to bring back dignity to the post of the member of Parliament," Robinson said.
"If it is a three-card trick, don't try and come and fool the country. If you believe it is something that is dishonest, don't participate in it! You don't have a moral obligation to participate," he added.
The Government last year allocated $2.4 billion for the CDF which when distributed among MPs, saw each member getting $40 million to undertake constituency projects.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...SAYS_WAITE.asp
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