No favouritism! Each elected member to get $300K for COVID-19 affected constituents
Dubbed the ‘Special COVID-19 allocation,’ it will be in addition to the regular assistance grants called the District Fund. The Premier said it would enable members to “respond to needy cases, directly and swiftly.”
“Your Government has been hearing the feedback from the ground. We have also heard the concerns of the Opposition and let me assure you that COVID-19 is a time for unity and to have all hands on deck, where we put politics behind and the needs of the people and the Territory in front,” Hon Fahie noted.
No member disadvantaged
He continued: “This allocation has been divided equally. No Member is advantaged, and none are disadvantaged. All are enabled to help you the people, especially when it comes to some of the simpler, less complicated issues,” he remarked on Thursday, May 28, 2020, during a live broadcast to present his government’s $62.9 million economic response plan.
“And, just as these funds are allocated without favouritism, we expect that favouritism and political allegiances will be put aside. It matters not who you voted for; if you have a need and can justify it during this COVID-19 era, please contact your district representative, and of course, check out the other programmes that were announced this evening.”
The Premier said the total sum allotted for this initiative is $3.9 million, and it is in addition to the other assistance that persons in need can access.
“So, if you live in District 1, then you contact me, Andrew Alturo Fahie, and I will be setting up a special contact number for this initiative. If you live in District 2, then you contact Honourable Melvin 'Mitch' Turnbull. If you live in District 3, then you contact Honourable Julian Fraser. If you live in District 4, then you contact Honourable Mark Vanterpool. If you live in District 5, then you contact Honourable Kye Rymer. If you live in District 6, then you contact Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines. If you live in District 7, then you contact Honourable Natalio Wheatley. If you live in District 8, then you contact Honourable Marlon Penn. If you live in District 9, then you contact Honourable Vincent Wheatley.”
He said persons could also reach out to the four At Large Representatives, Honourables Sharie B. DeCastro, Carvin Malone, Shereen L. Flax-Charles and Neville A. Smith.
$$ to be audited
In the meantime, Premier Fahie said, these funds will not go unaudited.
“Please note that transparency and accountability still apply to these special funds. The funds will be audited monthly by the internal auditor,” he stated.
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19 Responses to “No favouritism! Each elected member to get $300K for COVID-19 affected constituents”
These funds will not go unaudited. Set the audit date and let the 9 recipients know that paperwork is required for every cent including justification details for giving amounts to a particular person(s).
Too much waste and injustices in the place because it has people working who do not need to get any funds of any kind whilst the poor still go poor.
Trying to disarm both the people and the Opposition, especially the people.
but question, since dey giving out all dis money, does the honorable esteemed one get $300k too.
What is the possibility of persons going to both their district rep and the at large reps for the same thing? What control measures are in place to avoid this? Why the At Large reps need $300K each since they do not represent a district?
I am smelling a rat and I hope that before funds are given by at large reps., these at large reps. contact the district rep first. Smelling money too and when certain persons smell money they smell greed & corruption.
Wow, the blogging of avoiding injustices and corruption hurts your eyes. It must if you are wicked.
For example, if an individual approaches the social security for stimulus, social development for stimulus, electricity for stimulus, and their district rep for stimulus, how is one person receiving from four areas being controlled, supervised and accessed??
I am hoping that checks and balances are in place because this can get out of hand really quickly and persons not needing receiving monies that can be saved for rainy days or areas that need it most.
The premier made a valid point of hurricane season being upon us and the uncertainty of the future. Can some of this monies be held on to in these instances, especially that of district reps for later in the year if needed?
This approach to stimulus must be balanced, controlled and fair to everyone.
Have we considered as well, with schools and universities closing and an influx of locals returning home, how this will affect our country? If universities and schools are closed in America for the remainder of the year, that means persons that are returning home and staying for God knows how long. Will these individuals not need to be employed? Will they not want jobs? Has our labor minister considered this and balancing the work force with work permit holders?
These are things that need to be thought out and evaluated.