The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

LORETTA Butler Turner, FNM deputy leader has raised concern over additional government borrowing after Prime Minister Perry Christie agreed to an $8 million grant from the Chinese government.

The Prime Minister visited Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, this weekend and met with the President of China Xi Jinping where the agreement was agreed. The Tribune understands the “new package of technical support” is to be paid over 20 years at a two per cent interest rate.

If the government intends to seek additional funding – apart from the $465 million loan needed this fiscal year – Mrs Butler questioned why officials had not informed parliamentarians of the decision during last week’s budget communication or brought a resolution to the House of Assembly. 

In addition, she took grave exception to the fact that Mr Christie had left the country on official business, but no official statement had been made to the country stating his travel plans or appointing an acting Prime Minister. A press release was sent out after the meeting had already taken place.

“If the economy has turned for the better,” Mrs Butler-Turner said, “as Mr Halkitis told us last week,  why are we borrowing so much money? Why are we going to increase taxes and why are we going to look for additional funding?

“There are a lot of questions surrounding this money which should be approved by the express consent of the House.

“I also want to know where was the public announcement that Mr Christie was going out of the country. When he is going out of the country on official business, Mr Christie is constitutionally and duty bound to inform the Bahamian people. We should know who is acting in his capacity.

“I don’t care if it was for one hour or for one day he is duty bound to let the country know who is charge. It seems to me like our Prime Minister is acting in a very covert fashion. Them notifying us after the fact does not get him off the hook.”

According to a press statement, Mr Christie has identified projects in agriculture, education, culture, tourism and national infrastructure as suitable initiatives for the investment of the Chinese grant.

But specifics of the spending are to be settled in New Providence with Chinese officials, an official statement said.

Other governmental executives who accompanied Mr Christie included Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, Caricom High Commissioner Picewell Forbes, Honorary Consul for The Bahamas in Trinidad Dr. Monica Davis and Joy Newbold Foreign Service Officer.