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MP seeks money to buy food for fishermen
A request by Member of Parliament (MP) Colin Fagan for funds to provide food and gear for a fishing project left him embarrassed following a broadside by Everald Warmington, the controversial chair of the parliamentary committee set up to examine projects submitted to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Fagan was seeking funds for the fishing project in his St Catherine South Eastern constituency, but Warmington said the Social Development Commission (SDC) did not have the capability to implement it.
The committee chair said he believed the SDC would not necessarily know the stipulation by Government for the size of the wires for the fishing nets.
"Therefore, the project cannot go through the SDC. It has to be the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries," he declared.
"It says here, you have here for foods and gear and what have you, fi what?" Warmington asked.
"That is the whole purpose of the ... ," Fagan said before he was cut off.
"To give them food?" Warmington asked.
"Is a fishing village," Fagan said.
"Food! But we can't give fisherman food. You can't tek de money gi fisherman food. No. Food and tools. No, him must eat de fish that they go out there and catch. You cannot provide food for fishermen. Giving them lunch to go to sea?" Warmington asked incredulously.
"I would never give a fisherman in my area food to take to sea," Warmington stormed.
Last week, an upset Fagan said the project had been sitting at the CDF unit for weeks and not brought before the committee. On Tuesday, the date of receipt on the project was October 30 - two weeks ago.
Warmington was further upset that the project mentioned children to be employed under the programme, which he pointed out was illegal.
When Fagan responded "is not me write it", the chairman exploded.
"You don't know what is in your programme? Is you sign it! Who is the MP? SDC? They are giving you rubbish and you put rubbish on here," Warmington suggested as Fagan tried to steer the comments away from the child-labour issue.
Warmington not only rejected the project but blasted the MP for improper request of, and usage of CDF funds, and for involving children in work.
erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com
A request by Member of Parliament (MP) Colin Fagan for funds to provide food and gear for a fishing project left him embarrassed following a broadside by Everald Warmington, the controversial chair of the parliamentary committee set up to examine projects submitted to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Fagan was seeking funds for the fishing project in his St Catherine South Eastern constituency, but Warmington said the Social Development Commission (SDC) did not have the capability to implement it.
The committee chair said he believed the SDC would not necessarily know the stipulation by Government for the size of the wires for the fishing nets.
"Therefore, the project cannot go through the SDC. It has to be the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries," he declared.
"It says here, you have here for foods and gear and what have you, fi what?" Warmington asked.
"That is the whole purpose of the ... ," Fagan said before he was cut off.
"To give them food?" Warmington asked.
"Is a fishing village," Fagan said.
"Food! But we can't give fisherman food. You can't tek de money gi fisherman food. No. Food and tools. No, him must eat de fish that they go out there and catch. You cannot provide food for fishermen. Giving them lunch to go to sea?" Warmington asked incredulously.
"I would never give a fisherman in my area food to take to sea," Warmington stormed.
Last week, an upset Fagan said the project had been sitting at the CDF unit for weeks and not brought before the committee. On Tuesday, the date of receipt on the project was October 30 - two weeks ago.
Warmington was further upset that the project mentioned children to be employed under the programme, which he pointed out was illegal.
When Fagan responded "is not me write it", the chairman exploded.
"You don't know what is in your programme? Is you sign it! Who is the MP? SDC? They are giving you rubbish and you put rubbish on here," Warmington suggested as Fagan tried to steer the comments away from the child-labour issue.
Warmington not only rejected the project but blasted the MP for improper request of, and usage of CDF funds, and for involving children in work.
erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com
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