The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney said it should be mandatory for members of Parliament to provide a breakdown to the House of Assembly of constituency expenditure, as many of them are inactive in their elected areas.

He told The Tribune yesterday that while he understood the need for more funding, the consideration to increase the constituency allowance should not be given until the government can regulate the activity of MPs in their areas.

Nevertheless, he said the country was not in the financial position to address this issue.

This comes a day after House Speaker Dr Kendal Major urged Prime Minister Perry Christie to “have mercy” on parliamentarians by considering increasing constituency allowances.

Mr McCartney said: “At this time we simply cannot afford it. There are greater things that the government must focus on. We need to stabilise our economy, focus on building new industries, get the cost of electricity under control and control crime because there are costs associated with crime.

“So it is a good thing to want to increase the allowances, however, we don’t even know what these MPs are doing with their constituencies.

“Before we talk about this, let’s see what they are really doing. They should be made to report all of the projects and the activities that took place over a certain period of time.”

The former Cabinet minister, who served in the last Ingraham administration, criticised MPs whom he said are “missing in action” after they are elected to office and show up five years later asking for votes ahead of a new election.

He said should his party take office in 2017, MPs will be expected to report on their constituencies every six months.

“What the DNA will do is (ensure) that MPs will report to the House on a six month basis as to what they are doing,” he said. “And I’m not talking about condolences or birthday ‘shout outs.’

“Every five years these people go around and ask for support, when they get that they don’t see them for another five years,” he added.

On Wednesday, Dr Major said members have often complained to him about the $1,500 constituency allowance and how it has not served its purpose, particularly those who may not have a ministry that they are responsible for.

At the time parliamentarians, particularly those from the opposition party applauded his remarks as he spoke.

Dr Major added: “Maybe I’m speaking for Garden Hills, but I think I’m speaking for the entire House, that we have great difficulty in the constituency allowance that has been provided and the chair will certainly like to admonish and encourage for some type of increase that would go a long way in assisting us in hiring staff and doing work that we would like to do to better assist our constituents.

“So I just take the opportunity to make a plea on behalf of the members of Parliament whom I have the privilege of leading from this place, that the right honourable member have mercy on the members of Parliament and increase the constituency allowance, both the ($50,000) and the $1,500 because it has just been a difficult experience.”

Mr Christie, who is expected to deliver the government’s budget communication next week, said he will take the speaker’s recommendation into consideration.

MP’s get a $1,500 monthly allowance for the management of constituency offices and have access to $50,000 a year to carry out capital works and other physical upgrades in the areas they represent.