McNeill, Bartlett clash over tourism spending
A war of words developed earlier this week, after Opposition Spokesman on Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, on Wednesday called on the Government to explain how over $700 million allocated to the Ministry of Tourism in the 2012/13 budget, from the Tourism Enhancement Fund’s (TEF) $3.8 billion budget, was spent.
Bartlett was concerned about the $219.9 million allocated for the lighting of the Elegant Corridor in Rose Hall, in his own constutency of East Central St, James, which is still unlit, as well as $146.5 million for the Turtle River in Ocho Rios, with no physical evidence of work being done, and some $334 million included in the budget for the TEF under “other projects”, with no indication of what “other projects” meant.
“Answering these questions goes to the heart of the integrity of the process and how the sector uses this very important fund, which is there for the enhancement of the product,” said Bartlett, who was speaking in the 2013/14 budget debate in the House of Representatives.
But, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Dr Wykeham McNeill, responded to the Jamaica Observer article on the issue on Thursday, describing the assertions as “baseless”.
“I believe Mr Bartlett is deliberately trying to mislead the public. He has pointed to several major projects, which we intend to undertake in due course. Prior to his presentation, we gave him all the information he requested on our various initiatives, in a very transparent manner, but clearly he did not understand the information and, instead, went on a flight of fancy,” Dr McNeill stated.
“These funds have been disbursed to the National Works Agency for use in executing several major projects, in keeping with all the relevant guidelines set out by the Ministry of Finance and Planning,” Dr McNeill said. “No work has started on these projects and no money has been spent, because we are following due process to ensure transparency. We will be announcing these projects at an appropriate time, after all the requisite approvals have been secured.
“As usual, the Opposition Spokesman is grasping at straws in his bid to cast a negative light on all our efforts to develop the sector. However, we will not be distracted and remain focused on laying a proper foundation for the growth and sustainable development of this vital sector and positioning tourism as a major driver of Jamaica’s economy,” Dr McNeill added.
But, later on Thursday, Bartlett dismissed the minister’s comment as “regrettable.”
“I am extremely disturbed by Minister McNeill’s allegation that I sought to mislead the Parliament, and feel compelled to move swiftly in dismissing that baseless claim. I merely sought a breakdown as to how $3.2 billion was spent last year by TEF and had no interest in creating mischief or going after a scandal,” he said.
“Following a request made by me during a sitting of the Standing Finance Committee, ahead of the commencement of the Budget Debate, information pertaining to expenditure under the TEF was provided by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment,” Bartlett said.
“I noted with interest, that the documentation provided outlined expenditure under the TEF for the financial year 2012/13, as well as projected expenditure for the current financial year – 2013/14. In my contribution to the debate, I merely sought to bring to Parliament’s attention a project, concerning lighting along the Elegant Corridor in Montego Bay, for which some 219,917,625 was disbursed, and as such suggesting works being carried out.
“This however could not have been the case, as to date, the light is nowhere in sight. And so, the Minister must clarify the matter and give the taxpaying public, who require nothing but value for money at this time, a clear indication as to whether the projects for which monies were disbursed for 2012/13 were actually completed, or whether they are completed or have commenced any at all.”
Bartlett claimed that it was either a case of McNeil being unfamiliar with how proper public expenditure is conducted, or was unaware of the developments taking place in agencies within his remit, such as the TEF.
“The Minister should recognise that it is highly irregular to provide funding to an implementing agency, in this case, the National Works Agency (NWA), representing virtually 100 per cent of the sum required to carry out works, when that work has not in fact started. The Minister may also wish to give an explanation as to why $146,533,500 has been disbursed for Phase I of the Turtle River Project, when no work has actually commenced,” he added.