The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Chairman Sidney Collie yesterday alleged that the stark increase of the Office of the Prime Minister’s 2016/2017 budget allocation was proof that the government intends to use public funds as an election tool.

Mr Collie demanded an explanation for the dramatic increase in the Office of the Prime Minister’s contingency provision from a meagre $29,000 the previous fiscal year to $2m. He called the provision a “slush fund”.

“The previous fiscal year the fund stood at $29,000 – that’s right, $29,000. Now it’s $2m – a stunning increase of 6,000 per cent.”

He added: “What’s even more stunning is that the prime minister used less than $1,000 for the first nine months of the last fiscal year. So why the astronomical increase?”

He questioned what the $2m would be used for.

“The people deserve to know, it is their right, considering it is the tax payer’s dollars that are funding it.”

According to the 2016/2017 budget, funding for the Office of the Prime Minister increased by $9,845,525 to $17,069,450.

The rise is mainly because of increased funding for several high-profile groups overseeing special projects.

These include the National Health Insurance Secretariat, which has received $2.5m; the Antiquities, Monuments & Museum Corporation, which will receive about $2.45m; and the Clifton Heritage Authority, which will receive a substantial increase of about $1.8m to take its total to $2.2m.

The budget also shows that $2m has been allocated in the Office of the Prime Minister for contingencies.

Yesterday, Mr Collie questioned what safeguards were in place to ensure the fund was not used illegally or as an asset to the PLP’s election campaign.

“Sadly, this is nothing new for the PLP government,” he said.

“It’s just an extension of their corrupt ways where they lavish government contracts on their families and friends. Their mentality and actions have encouraged corruption to seep into every level of government, and their main directive is to enrich themselves.”

Mr Collie pledged that the FNM would investigate “corrupt practices” as a matter of priority if elected.