The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant dubbed the Ministry of Grand Bahama a “waste of public funds” and accused the ministry of being over-staffed and over-paid.

He also questioned if hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent on consultants there.

Minister of Grand Bahama Michael Darville responded to Mr Grant’s statements in the House of Assembly yesterday, where he confirmed that the ministry does have a consultant on site making $70,000 a year, but the two Grand Bahamians disagreed over aspects of the island’s ministry.

“This ministry, with no clearly defined function, is a waste of public funds,” Mr Grant said. “Does it have a staff of 30, 40, 50? Does it have a fleet of cars that makes their parking lot resemble that of a rental car company when they are all parked?

“I’m told staff in this ministry is tripping over each other; the corridors have been turned into offices with cubicles. Consultants are being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars. How do you pay a part time employee $70,000 per year?”

Dr Darville stood up to answer to Mr Grant’s claims and accused him of misleading the House.

“He made statements that we have employees at the Ministry of Grand Bahama tripping over each other and consultants making $100,000 – all are untrue,” Dr Darville said.

“I invite the member, at his earliest convenience, to come to the ministry of Grand Bahama to see what they do , rather than actually being on the outside to try to determine what they are doing.

“When you come, you will understand what we’re doing and you will gain more respect of what this government is trying to accomplish on the island of Grand Bahama.”

In response, Mr Grant reiterated questions he asked of the government earlier this year – including the names of persons engaged on contract at the ministry, their job titles, salaries, and benefits.

“I trust that the reduction in expenditure will begin with the Ministry of Grand Bahama, where hundreds of thousands of dollars of the people’s money is being wasted,” Mr Grant said. “Large salaries – Jack has a car, Harry has a car, Mary has a car. The government’s vehicles are being used 24/7 all at the people’s expense.”

Again Dr Darville said Mr Grant was misleading the House.

“He is making statements out into space and he needs to come down and deal with the facts – deal with the issues, rather than slandering a ministry,” he said.

“The member for Central Grand Bahama is indicating that staff members who have cars. There’s no staff member in my ministry who have a (government) car except the permanent secretaries. I don’t even have a car. So please, check your facts.”

Mr Grant again questioned if there is a consultant in the Ministry who is being paid $70,000 per year – which Mr Darville answered in the affirmative.

“Yes, I do have a consultant in my ministry who is responsible to assist me in affairs as it relates to my portfolio,” he said. “His name is Mr Albert Grey and yes, he is making a salary of $70,000.”