Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. De Castro (AL) defended her ministry's travel expenses saying her ministry has deliberate in ensuring that all official travel lines with our strategic objectives. Photo: YouTube

Opposition Member and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Hon Stacy R. Mather (AL) asked for a summary of the total number of trips and its associated expenses undertaken by the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports in the last two years. Photo: YouTube

Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. De Castro (AL) said the amount spent includes all personnel in the ministry- the minister, senior officials, education officers, heads of departments, principals, teachers, students and youth representatives. 

She was responding to a question from Opposition Member and Deputy Speaker of the HoA Hon Stacy R. Mather (AL) during the question and answer segment of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on Thursday, February 13, 2025. 

“Could the Minister for Education please provide this Honourable House with a summary of the total number of overseas trips undertaken by the ministry in the last two years; could the minister also provide a breakdown of the travel cost for each trip as well as total time ministry staff spent outside of the Territory on official travel during that period including associated expenses,”  he asked. 

Ministry of Education trips cost half of HoA’s budget- Hon de Castro

Hon de Castro, in seeking to bring context to the ministry’s travel expenses, said, “The ministry has been deliberate in ensuring that all official travel lines with our strategic objectives: to enhance education, youth development and sports in the Territory. Every trip undertaken is designed to bring back tangible benefits, strengthen our policies, programs and institutional capacity.”

However, Hon Mather interjected on a Point of Order, asking Speaker of the HoA Mrs Corine N George-Massicote to rule that Hon de Castro be specific with her responses. 

Hon de Castro, after being instructed to be specific in her reply, said, “I have to say, Madam Speaker, that given the debate that we’re currently here having, of course it brings to mind the reality that those nine trips, Madam Speaker, in 2024, was almost the entire value of the cost of one trip for the house of Assembly in that same year Madam Speaker.”

Hon de Castro went on to reveal that while her ministry’s travel budget for 2024 was 157,837.94, the House of Assembly’s was $304,447.30. The figure she said was “double” that of her ministry. 

Why are HoA’s figures necessary?- Speaker

The Speaker then asked Hon de Castro about the comparison to the HoA’s travel budget, to which she replied, “As Minister of Education, I’m asked to stand here as the person with oversight over the ministry and speak to the travel in the ministry. The member who asked the question is the Deputy Speaker, who in your absence has the same oversight over the House of Assembly.”

Hon de Castro added some things must be spoken about regarding how HoA members portray travel to the public, especially since they are all members of the House and engage in travel. 

“I am certain that the House has brought back receipts, significant impact from travel continuously on the numerous trips that have taken place, and I have never questioned that reality. So, Madam Speaker, I just believe it is appropriate, given what has transpired for me, to bring that level of clarity that in some instances,” she said, defending her need to explain the reasons and outcomes of her ministry’s travel outside the Territory. 

Hon Mather eventually withdrew his question, explaining that he already had Hon de Castro’s written twelve-paragraph response to that one question.