Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:13 hours 36 min ago
Insensitive extravagance by Govt
Published: 6 Nov 2009
Obviously understanding that it requires much more to justify the purchase and erection of a flag for $2 million, Sports Minister Gary Hunt is now engaged in dissembling, that is seeking to hide the reality of the cost by diversionary tactics. In this case, Mr Hunt has thrown out the names of Hasely Crawford, Ato Boldon, Richard Thompson and Brian Lara, hoping to strike a connection in the minds of the public that this flag, at this stupendous cost, is somehow connected to these real heroes of the people of T&T. Offence can be taken here with this cheapening of the achievements of these athletes by a politician attempting to justify, when cornered, what in any language is extravagant expenditure.
His attempt at rationalising the expenditure by claiming that “every day the flag flies it would do damage control …as a symbol of national pride,” is really an attempt to insult the collective intelligence of the people of T&T. This pattern of diversion goes back a couple weeks when questions were first raised about the cost of the flag. First, the minister said he could not say what the cost of the flag was. In fact at the post-Cabinet news conference last week when asked about the cost he almost committed to saying $2 million but stopped himself at the last moment and adopted the tactic then of saying that even if the flag had cost $2 million its worth was in instilling national pride.
However, within a few days of realising that the concerns about the large expenditure on the flag were not going away, he accompanied the chairman of the Sports Company, Kenneth Charles, to a news conference to allow the official to confirm to the national community the $2 million cost of the flag. There are questions that need to be asked about a minister not knowing the cost of a flag when the cost reaches such astronomical proportions: is he allowing his subordinates to make decisions on the spending of such large sums of public money on a flag, without knowing from the start about the project and what it would cost? Did he not have the normal ministerial oversight of this project, including its cost?
Minister Hunt’s handling of this matter seems to be less than adequate. But the expenditure on the flag and its erection does fall into a pattern of extravagance so prevalent in the operations of this Government. Within Mr Hunt’s own portfolio there is the waste being daily demonstrated on the Brian Lara Stadium, two years behind schedule and over by $100 million from the original cost (as revealed this week by the Housing Minister). Yet no one, not even the Sports Minister, is able to say when the stadium will be finished and what will be the final cost. As part of a pattern of extravagance with public funds is the construction of a new building on the compound of the Prime Minister’s Residence and Diplomatic Centre, to host 1,000 people in a concert hall setting.
The presumption must be that this new private place would be a place for the Prime Minister to host visiting leaders in private concerts. The reality is that such extravagance is being engaged in when there are far more pressing needs of a human nature to be attended to. In every medium of public opinion over the last week since this flag matter broke, there have been any number of suggestions as to how this money could have been used to fill real needs of people in this society. While it is not the intention of this newspaper to attempt to “back-seat drive” an administration that was constitutionally elected to manage the country’s affairs two years ago, the Government needs to be a little more sensitive to the disquiet its expenditure on non-essentials is causing at this time of economic recession.
....this is just the tip of
....this is just the tip of the iceberg....wait 'till the final costs are really known.....
..This is PNM
..This is PNM country...!..yes...and..we like it so...good for we...!
...jump up and wave..(the $2million Flag..???)...an' build more mansions and playthings for the "megalomaniac" - like $278 million dollars and counting...till all de money gone...!..
...incompetence has a price...its very costly...this their living proof...dey showin' we what incompetence at the max really is..? .
..den gather all the used tires, time to march and buhn tires and protest till next time...jes like fowl on the road...dey jest get hit on the road, and they get bazodee, stop for a while and den run right back on the road to get hit and killed the second time...dey jes don't learn...!
...well, same for we Trinis...Patos know dat...he laughin' at us while listening to his ($5 million.or so..??..."Divine Echoes" from his new ($10 Million dollars) 1000 seat private concert hall...RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO HIS $278 MILLION DOLLARS PALACE...while we ketch we nennen..."HAT IN HAND" & "BEGGING FOR SCRAPS" from "the man's" overflowing plate...an he keep sayin' "none for yuh"...This is PNM country ..feel proud and take yuh licks like a man...we like it so...1
till all de money gone again..."..."but way de money GONE" ???...it good for we..."...WE WON'T EVER LEARN...WOULD WE..???
Goodluck...!
Trini.t.o.o
Insensitive Extravagance by
Insensitive Extravagance by Gov't:
The Editor:
This government is spending us to the Poor House. They are in charge and will do what ever they want to do and the natives can complain until the cows come home, and they will never listen. When they are questioned about their lavish spending they present some of the most idiotic responses and attempt to make us feel foolish.
Mr. Gary Hunt has been displaying his ignorance for quite some time now. Last week when questioned about he $2M spent on the flag, his response was all over the place, and he refused to be cornered into giving a straight answer. He attempted to make those who were questioning him feel 'guilty' and 'unpatriotic'. Mr. Hunt is more concerned about his appearances, as he believes he is a "movie star".
We spent $2M on a flag for the Hasley Crawford Stadium named after our gold medalist in the '76 Olympics. We respect this gentleman so much that we sent him to the Olympics in China last year and housed him in shabby quarters, from which he had to be rescued by kind-hearted persons who moved him to acceptable quarters. So attempting to glorify the Flag with Mr. Crawford's stadium is an insult to one of our national heroes. So my advice to Mr. Hunte is to bite his tongue the next time he wishes to speak foolishness.
I tend to believe that Mr. Hunt is not aware of what's going on in his portfolio, and leaves everything to his executive staff. They provide him with the pertinent information, but he is too full of himself that he will not read their Fact Sheet. He fumbled at the first media interview, gave a lot of inoformation but still left us with unanswered questions.
We are struggling to get basis essentials to the most vulnerable among us, and we are told that this gov't do not have the money. But it is sad to see that they can get all the millions they desire to indulge in their splendour and squander.
We do not need a $2M flag to make us feel patriotic. We are very proud of our country and will defend it with the last ounce of our blood. That's patriotism, Mr. Hunt. And now we are told that Mr. Manning's Concert Hall will cost us $10M.
Our Judiciary had their budget request slashed to mere pittance, and the Finance Minister gave a shameless explanation to justify their actions.
Bottom line, Mr. Manning and his inner-circle and well connected are feasting at our Treasury and have blocked out the citizens of this nations from their responsibilities. Good governance is a foreign language to Mr. Manning, Mr. Hunt, Ms. Dick-Forde, Mr. Enill and the list goes on. If there is any crumbs left they will if they so desire throw some in the direction of the innocent citizens of T&T.
They aim to spend us out of house and home.
Gardenia
From the little I know of Mr
From the little I know of Mr Ken Charles, he seems to be an honest and hard working businessman.
I think that Mr Charles should either resign or distance himself from this "national shame".
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
The Editorial's commentary
The Editorial's commentary is spot on.
This Government, while being totally inept, has nevertheless become very adept at throwing out diversionary tactics.
Do not believe for a minute that Minister Hunt did not really know the true cost of the flag. He in fact knew the cost, but knowing the exorbitant sum, and the hue & cry that would ensue following the disclosure, tried to stall by waffling.
Now there is Imbert having a rambling discourse about the 'outdoor facility' being constructed next to the official residence.
Who is in charge here ? Who is approving these expenditures ?
This country is clearly at the end of a boom cycle, but the administration continues to spend taxpayer funds like there is no tomorrow. In the meantime, said taxpayers cannot get a regular water supply (even in upscale areas); there is a lack of proper medical facilities; roads are in disrepair; months on end to get a passport renewed etc. etc.
The good people of T&T are not looking to be a social state through Government handouts. However, these exhorbitant funds being expended unnecessarily (with no real value) are of great concern. There must be some form of social justice here.
"Who is in charge here ? Who
"Who is in charge here ? Who is approving these expenditures ?"
Answer: UDeCOTT.
Its a case of the tail wagging the dog, as Dr Rowley put it.
Nina0646 It is Minister
Nina0646
It is Minister Hunt's ignorant excuses/reasons/statements that are really sickening, and insulting to the truly patriotic Trinidadians and Tobagonians, whose important needs are not being considered or met by the powers that be....
The news is beginning to get
The news is beginning to get monotonous now...same story over and over, however it still remains frightening...crime, corruption, poor governance, indifference and insensitivity by the PNM government.
"A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves" (Edward R Murrow)
"The citizen can bring our political and governmental institutions back to life, make them responsive and accountable, and keep them honest. No one else can" (John Gardner)
Make a difference:
- Voice your disapproval
- Vote change
Where is FAIRPLAY ? We need
Where is FAIRPLAY ? We need a refresher on Voting 101...
True- it's the same news, unethical, unaccountable and no transparency. These Ministers clearly answer to UDECOTT. Anyone notice the PM isn't providing the population with any justification for the 'outdoor facility'?
Blatant lack of regard for all hardworking taxpayers, whose money they are spending.
Check out this site, make
Check out this site, make your own calculations, include import expenses etc., technical advice, labor cost and come up with an average cost for our legacy flag.
http://www.conservflag.com/150fogistfl.html
Claxtonbay Trini The T&T
Claxtonbay Trini
The T&T cricket team that just won the Presidents cup in Guyana is what national pride is all about. Not a flag. It seems that everything the gov't buys, spends, builds, still building is in the millions.......even if it's a flag.....I think it's about time to invite the Guiness book of Records administrators to visit T&T and we will be in the Guiness book of records ........and that my friends is guaranteed......I am almost certain that our flag will be in that book....isn't that right, Mr Hunt (what seat did you win during the election, again), or sorry, what seat were you given again?........
AH HEAR MEH NAME
AH HEAR MEH NAME -
lahaina
Ah hear meh name, so ah jump in the gayelle. Don’t complain you were warned, split your vote and you will put PNM back in power. So take yuh pressure like ah man or woman whatever is appropriate for the circumstances. I leave with few lines from my up and coming calypso,
You were warned,
Just wine back,
You like it so,
Just wine back,
You choose it so,
Just wine back,
Wine back
Wine back
Sans Humanite
Take it in yuh pwefen
Take it in the East, Take it in the West, Take it in the North and Take it in the South. Take It. Take it. Just take it.
The PM is in London. He
The PM is in London. He can't talk to the people at the moment. "Pussy, pussy cat, where have you been?...." He there to talk CHOGM business, at least so he says. Maybe Panday gave him the name of the doctor there who has been treating him and Oma. No sooner Pannning met Manday on Tuesday, Panning jetted off to London.
We should be grateful that
We should be grateful that if the government is going to waste hundreds of millions of our money on buildings that we may or may not have access to (Prime Ministerial "outdoor facility" included), that they were so kind as to waste $2 million on something that we all would be able to see and appreciate.
Well, I was away and all
Well, I was away and all hell broke loose and continues to break loose.Claxton Bay Trini- I will google that question to Guinness Book of Records, hey you may be right. I dont know what the process is for building structures at the PM residence? does anyone know? Is it a Transparent process? It might have been budgeted for somewhere in Ministry of such and such, in the fine print.
What next you think is hiding behind that building? We see the front and someone who goes to China often said it looks like a typical Chinese building from the Communism days? But is that an AC at the top?, be careful of Legionnaire's disease, the AC unit should be in a separate Utility building.
Its fun though catching Hunt's explanation and he said he "did not know the real cost but what if its even 2 Million$? what is the problem then?" you see a problem? or words to that effect.
And the Einstein theorem of the day, came from Imbert on the bridge, was hilarious. How do these guys go home at nights and when their wives ask : " Hi honey, Did you have a good day in the office today dear?" Answer " I give them good! real good babe!, stupid peasants the whole lot of them, they like it so" latter phrase taken from Trini t.o.o.
Gardenia is more polite and obviously a heroine with her words. I guess the PM knows of Gardenia by now. I wonder if he and Imbert think this woman knows what she talking about.
I think someone can write a book on what is going on in Trinidad AND Tobago and the background, the projects, the lies, and the Imbertism and Huntism of all of this. Things like : its the squatters who caused the floods? Things like Udecott and the Lara stadium, things like the "affidavit", things like "the fax number", the "mobile loos to pee or not to pee" It could be a big seller. and where is RYAN 4 PARTY? The Guardian cut him off?
I am really curious about
I am really curious about this flag. It should be easy to find out how much something like this should cost. There is a huge Trini flag on a pole up on the highway to the airport. How much that one cost? I bet is wasn't $2M or even close.
And the other one that make me laugh was when Patos was able to get off from the lady who was taking him to court. Reading the Trini papaers is like reading a comic strip sometimes, except it aint so funny again.
Trini expat