St. George’s, Grenada – December 1st, 2010: Former Minister for Works Hon. Gregory Bowen is calling on the Minister for Finance Hon. Nazim Burke to pay outstanding amounts owed to a number of small contractors and businessmen before Christmas.
The former member of Government says many of these individuals were given contracts under the previous administration and have undertaken small concrete works but were never paid by this Government because of their perceived affiliation to the New National Party Administration. Bowen is saying that the failure to honour these longstanding obligations is heartless and that it is a clear indication that the NDC administration does not care about the poor and vulnerable in our society and that it puts politics before people.
Sen Bowen is also appealing to the Government to consider that all businesses are going through their toughest time ever. He is pointing to the fact that many of these businesses are owed large sums by the Government and that the Government is turning a deaf ear to them in spite of constant appeals for payment. The Member of Parliament says in the interest of improving business confidence, saving jobs and promoting employment for the holiday season and after, the Government needs to honour its debt to businesses.
According to Sen. Bowen, the Government cannot continue to give the excuse that it has no money when it continues to engage in wastage including frequent high-cost travel by Government Ministers and close associates and the paying of hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries every month to close friends and relatives of Government Ministers and party supporters.