'Govt on ego trip'- What bull

[admin]

Opposition LEADER Basdeo Panday says that the Government must find another way to fulfil its obligations for the two upcoming international conferences without wasting $100 million on luxury vehicles.

"This country cannot afford to spend $100 million for ministers, diplomats and their families to drive around in luxury while there is flooding across our country, our roads are deplorable, our hospitals do not have beds and police do not have vehicles to respond to crimes," Panday said in a release issued to the media last Friday.

He added that the Government has caused an unnecessary burden on the country by committing to the two international conferences, the Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, scheduled to take place next year.

"This government is on an ego-trip. It is spending $1 billion to wine and dine Heads of States. When a country is in a state where its citizens cannot afford to buy food and inflation hits 13.4 per cent speeding to 16 per cent against the backdrop of a global financial meltdown, then that country cannot afford to be wasting money and spending wildly as the PNM is doing now," he stated.

"Except for satisfying the ego of the Prime Minister, did the government need to host these two conferences? Did the programme of activities need to be so elaborate to cost $1 billion? Do we not have more pressing things to do with our taxpayers' money? Could this money not have been put to better use or saved for when the energy 'boom' is over as some people are saying that it is?"Panday said.

He stated that spending millions on luxury vehicles will have all kinds of detrimental effects on the quality of life of citizens which is already so miserable.

"I thought this government raised the price of premium gas because it wanted to get cars off the road. That will put more money into circulation and it will undermine everything the Central Bank is doing to reduce inflation. It will cause more inflation. It is non-productive and non-essential expenditure," he said.

From the express

What do you think about this again the government is planing to waste our tax payers money just to big up him self. What do you think

 

[RauCous]

I thinkin I could use some of that money lol. Don't you find it strange that people use the same list when complaining- 'crime, hospital, poverty, water, inflation, low pay.' but thats not my point lol. I understand that hosting international guests would cost us... I just dont understand how it reach 1 billion. Thats still alot, maybe it would be better for some if they say exactly where the money going some people just fass like me. lol.
I dont see it as biggin up himself- what panday would do- the same thing... I doubt he would transport them in taxi and carry them for doubles or let them stay in $50.00 rooms. These things cost alot... I just dunno how it cost 1 billion... if that true...
Why we assuming is for we people, its for the guests, i hope it is, Panday make it sound like nothing comes out of these conferences but alot can come out of it- like an investment you might gain alot or nothing.. but you only gain if you put in. I sure if we scrutinise how every citzen spends money we'd find alot to complian about. As long as we have enough of a chance to regain that money I not complaining its like any other transaction. And if Manning is just a schemeing coniving stealing bastard he wont be spending no money on no foreigners just to look good. He'd rather it in his back pocket. lol. The thing is we know how much this costs but how much the country costs to run is still a mystery. We really dont know how much this compares to the other things the government pays for when running the country.

 

[admin]

I dont see it as biggin up himself- what panday would do- the same thing... I doubt he would transport them in taxi and carry them for doubles or let them stay in $50.00 rooms

I do believe he would do the same but i 1 billion is way too much we do we have to stup to internationals levels the while people why can't we use what we have here. Dude why is he buying vehicles for they to drive in for what about us. See We are only talking 20/20 vision but deal with the country first. who do you think put them up their its us. Do for us then for other help your governing country and then thing about 20/ 20 dude i does be frighten to come out my house sometimes thats not right. i don't like the fact at all that we keep on spending and hot seeing any results.
I hate politics it just causes the whole nation to divide.
We have so much of Trinidad resources why not use them you know how much is 1 billion the budget is 47 billion and a few billion more people complain where this expenditure coming out from Eh

 

[RauCous]

Excatly one billion is alot... I really do want to know where all of it going. It really retarded that 1 billion surfaces when someone else needs it but It looks like we're scrunting when it come to us. They could keep thier money but I want stuff like pipe borne water and more affordable food... I guess we have to make do with what we have.

 

[admin]

Yea look where i live current went like 6 times from friday to now and water goes every day and we living next to a dam is that 20/20 vision

 

[admin]

The acquisition of 200 luxury vehicles for the 2009 Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference is not a done deal, Transport Minister Colm Imbert says.

In October, the National Infrastructure and Property Development Company (NIPDEC) invited proposals for the supply, delivery and maintenance of 200 VIP vehicles for the two events to be held in this country.

Yesterday, in his contribution to the Provisional Collection of Taxes Order, Opposition MP Vasant Bharath slammed the Government on this initiative as he highlighted the woes of the people of his constituency.

On the heels of Bharath's comments, Imbert said Government is exploring all options and bids for both purchase, lease and also any other option to acquire the vehicles.

Opposition MP Jack Warner interjected, questioning why Foreign Affairs Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon indicated last week that the vehicles would be utilised by the public service after the conferences.

Imbert said she was speaking in the context of if the Government chooses the purchase option, adding, "we will pick the option that is in the best interest of the country".

Imbert also defended the Government's increase in premium gas and vehicle taxes, as he said for this year alone 19,000 vehicles were registered and the number of vehicles on the road was approaching 500,000. He said in 2001 there were 300,000 vehicles on the road and to date there are close to half a million. He said the Government could have banned foreign used cars or imposed drastic restriction on quotas, but it did not do this.

Imbert also refuted arguments and reports that people who travel through City Gate have to wait very long for a bus. He said this is untrue and the PTSC is operating today more efficiently than it ever has. Imbert said in 2001 there were 95 buses operating 17 routes and today there are 315 buses operating an increased number of routes

He added that in 2001, the waiting period for a bus from Port of Spain to Arima, Chaguanas and San Fernando ranged up to 90 minutes, when today commuters have to wait between 20 and 25 minutes.

200 fuc*ing luxury vehicle explain this now hmmm

 

[Resha]

Alot of people will question the amount of money spending but I only hope its worth it...

 

[admin]

I could never see this worth it, you see whats happening to usa Trinidad is feeling the effects but we continue to send

 

[Resha]

If our country has that amount of money to buy vehicle worth that much just for a couple of days, then why don't they invest in us (the individual).... Are we not a profitable icons..... So much can be done to change the life style of our country yet we see nothing being done...

This country has too much money that they don't know what to do with it

 

[Movedtoanswer]

We need to save more. We also need to spend more on hospitals, but that's something else.