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Nicholson Labels Outcry Over Ministers' Vehicles As 'Ill-Thinking'
Published: Saturday | November 24, 2012 0 Comments
A.J. Nicholson
Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter
A SENIOR member of the Portia Simpson Miller administration yesterday jeered persons who expressed opposition to the spend of approximately J$60 million on vehicles for ministers of government.
"It is being said that ministers must walk, and drive second-hand car. That is the great thinking that is being perpetuated on radio and on television," A.J. Nicholson said.
Nicholson, the foreign affairs and foreign trade minister, was speaking in the Senate during a debate on the Spirit Licence (Amendment) Act.
Approximately $60 million has been spent by the Simpson Miller administration to provide some of its ministers with new high-end vehicles since taking office almost a year ago.
Information released by Jamaica House this week indicates that 16 vehicles have been purchased for ministers at a cost of nearly US$694,000.
NO NEW VEHICLES FOR FOUR
Nicholson is one of five senior ministers for which a new vehicle has not been bought. The others are Prime Minister Simpson Miller, Environment Minister Robert Pickersgill, Justice Minister Mark Golding and Labour Minister Derrick Kellier.
Since the information was made public, there has been outcry from sections of society, with many questioning whether the money spent to acquire the SUVs could have been put to better use.
Yesterday, Nicholson was scornful as he dismissed suggestions that government ministers should drive in less costly vehicles.
"That is the great thinking. That is what we are putting our minds to for the development of the society," Nicholson said.
PUTTING IT DOWN
With whispers from the Opposition benches that he was straying from the issue at hand, Nicholson acknowledged that he needed to fit his contribution within the context of the bill.
He, however, said: "When you have ill-thinking in the society, the first opportunity you get to put it down, you should take it."
The spirit licences bill, which has been passed by the Senate, proposes to extend the opening hours for bars and taverns.
Nicholson had cautioned that members of the society needed to take personal responsibility for habits such as drinking, but veered off course after he alleged that "drivers of JUTC buses drive around with the Guinness bottles between their legs".
His fellow government senator, Lambert Brown, had denied that this was happening, and Nicholson used the opportunity to jump from the bar and taverns, to the bus, and then on to the SUVs.
Published: Saturday | November 24, 2012 0 Comments
A.J. Nicholson
Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter
A SENIOR member of the Portia Simpson Miller administration yesterday jeered persons who expressed opposition to the spend of approximately J$60 million on vehicles for ministers of government.
"It is being said that ministers must walk, and drive second-hand car. That is the great thinking that is being perpetuated on radio and on television," A.J. Nicholson said.
Nicholson, the foreign affairs and foreign trade minister, was speaking in the Senate during a debate on the Spirit Licence (Amendment) Act.
Approximately $60 million has been spent by the Simpson Miller administration to provide some of its ministers with new high-end vehicles since taking office almost a year ago.
Information released by Jamaica House this week indicates that 16 vehicles have been purchased for ministers at a cost of nearly US$694,000.
NO NEW VEHICLES FOR FOUR
Nicholson is one of five senior ministers for which a new vehicle has not been bought. The others are Prime Minister Simpson Miller, Environment Minister Robert Pickersgill, Justice Minister Mark Golding and Labour Minister Derrick Kellier.
Since the information was made public, there has been outcry from sections of society, with many questioning whether the money spent to acquire the SUVs could have been put to better use.
Yesterday, Nicholson was scornful as he dismissed suggestions that government ministers should drive in less costly vehicles.
"That is the great thinking. That is what we are putting our minds to for the development of the society," Nicholson said.
PUTTING IT DOWN
With whispers from the Opposition benches that he was straying from the issue at hand, Nicholson acknowledged that he needed to fit his contribution within the context of the bill.
He, however, said: "When you have ill-thinking in the society, the first opportunity you get to put it down, you should take it."
The spirit licences bill, which has been passed by the Senate, proposes to extend the opening hours for bars and taverns.
Nicholson had cautioned that members of the society needed to take personal responsibility for habits such as drinking, but veered off course after he alleged that "drivers of JUTC buses drive around with the Guinness bottles between their legs".
His fellow government senator, Lambert Brown, had denied that this was happening, and Nicholson used the opportunity to jump from the bar and taverns, to the bus, and then on to the SUVs.
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