St. George’s, Grenada, May 24rd 2011: Members of Her Majesty’s Opposition are calling on the Government to take urgent measures to bring relief to the people of Grenada by reducing Government’s spending on travel. Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Elvin Nimrod has noted that in 2009 Government’s spending on Overseas Travel and subsistence was over Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars. This figure was increase to almost 2 million dollars in 2010.
The MP for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs says the large sums spent by Government on travel can be diverted to other areas providing more assistance and relief to the many Grenadians who are finding it virtually impossible to provide for their basic needs. Nimrod noted that the economic situation is having serious effect on many persons who have never had to depend on Government for assistance in the past.
Commenting on the extent of the economic situation Nimrod noted “About a year ago the IMF described the state of the economy as catastrophic. Today the situation is worse so I am not sure what will be the best description.” He added, ‘What I do know is that the Government must urgently take action and change the way it functions. It cannot be business as usual.” Nimrod says at a time when the Government is unable to purchase basic medical supplies for the general hospital and other outpatient clinics, the Government continues to spend hundreds of thousands of tax payers money on overseas travel overseas. “Most of those trips can easily qualify as joy rides.” The MP went on to explain that there is no way the Government can justify delegations of 10 and at times 17 persons travelling to meetings overseas in these tough times. He added, “These are the insensitive decision taken by Government that continues to worsen the economic plight of the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. It is therefore high time that the Government gets its priorities right.”
According to the former Minister there is no problem with Ministers travelling but greater efforts should be made to ensure that more of these trips are both funded and beneficial to the people of Grenada. He said whenever a delegation has to be chosen to represent Grenada only those who are absolutely necessary must be included on the team and the savings should be passed on to the Grenadian citizens.
