Ministers of Health and Works speak about funds for new cemetery but fail to explain why it has not materialized
Minister of Health Sir Molwyn is denying that more than $2 million was spent on a new public cemetery and says that only about $140,000 has been disbursed, to date.
However, he gives no explanation on how the balance of the funds disbursed by the CIP Unit was spent.
Accounts published by the Unit recorded that $2,160,000.00 was disbursed since December 1, 2015, via cheque No. 1068 – to the Treasury, for the Ministry of Public Works – specifically for the creation of a new public cemetery to be sited at Tomlinsons.
But Sir Molwyn said recently that the cemetery has not materialized because he is waiting on funds – about $2 million – to become available.
Contradicting Joseph, Works Minister Lennox Weston claims that the money is available from the Treasury – to be disbursed in stages as the project progresses, as is normal procedure.
But, neither Minister could explain what has stalled the project and prevented it from being realized these past six years.
Meanwhile, another disbursement was made in 2017 – this time of US$54,054.00 – for the design of the burial ground.
Joseph has said that only US$30,000 was spent for that design – pretty pictures of which were displayed during his “Statement by a Minister” – but, again, no explanation about the balance of the money was offered.
Ironically, Sir Molwyn chided the former administration, accusing it of showing little respect for the dead and claiming that the former St. George representative objected to a new cemetery being established.
In fact, objections from the residents of neighbouring Potters Village about the cemetery being sited in their vicinity. Other objections centered around the fact that the Tomlinsons site is prone to flooding.
Minister Joseph also proclaimed that a new age in burials has arrived and that he is going to ensure that all church and public grounds conform to the new standard.
MP Pringle notes that he is surprised that Joseph is showing such concern for burial sites when, at nearby Heroes Park, the grave of The Father of the Nation, Sir V.C. Bird sits virtually ignored, even on December 9, which the Antigua Labour Party observes in tribute to the National Hero.
National Hero Sir George Walter is also interred at that location.
The United Progressive Party has routinely cleaned both graves ahead of its own celebration of National Heroes every year.
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Chupz, all of you are jokers. Jokers Squared!
Let the statutory boards, technical people and the PS dem do their work!
GISELE ISAAC is the actual leader of the Opposition. Pringle is the quasi-Leader. He is a puppet under the control of his master. He might as well wear an earpiece to Parliament and submit to the injection from Gisele. By the way, her goal is to UNDERMINE him and MESS HIM UP!!!
Sad but true it is so annoying and such a solid waste of time when I have to read this kind of donkey shit as commentary.
@Sad But True: Have you ever heard of this expression. You are dumber than a door nail. That is exactly how you sounded.
This man is head of the Publics Accounts Committee and if he had any questions then he could and should have ask for the explanation. What is his problem. if you still do not understand how government works, please as Lennox Weston suggested, go take some night classes.
Let’s put a stop to all this nonsense and get the cemetery built. We’re dying like flies, getting closer to the grave each day. Get the job done. No excuses whatsoever.
It’s soo sad that people continue to vote for individuals who don’t understand simple budgetary allocation. This representative doesn’t deserve to be in Parliment. Just to opposed just to sound like an uneducated person is done right misplaced bothering on ignorance.
Colombo+Thoughtful it was for the Minister of Health to explain the $2.16 million that was transferred from the CIP to the Treasury for the construction of the new cemetery. With all the glamour and glitz of his presentation in Parliament he is yet to give a sensible explanation of how those funds were used or not used. Perhaps it is the Minister of Health who needs a course in budgetary allocation.
First Mole-win Joseph is caught moving Rolls Royce over the Port fence, gets knighted and now can’t explain where the funds have gone.
This is the reason our nation is in the current sad state of affairs.
Those who continue to vote for the septic tank gang are just as guilty for our nation being where it currently is,
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