Minister: JSC wasting funds

Valley made this statement in response to a question from Newsday over what government was doing to make the work of the committees easier.

A somewhat peeved Valley replied: “I can’t see how they could complain about resources.

“Every week they have committee meetings. They are wasting funds. They should use the money to do other things instead of advertising their picture in the newspapers.” Valley was referring to a press conference the committees’ chairmen held on Thursday to complain about the numerous problems which are hindering them from doing their work, and the Government’s indifference to their cries. Outlining one problem, chairman of the Public Accounts and Enterprises Committee (PAEC), Wade Mark, said the committee’s first report for 2006 was tabled in Parliament a month and a half ago.

He said in it the PAEC called for contempt proceedings to be brought against the entire board of directors of Plipdeco, which was chaired by Kyam Mohammed, an ex-Coast Guard commander. Mohammed had also contested the St Joseph seat for the PNM in a previous general election.

Mark disclosed: “Plipdeco had invested in the purchase of a crane worth some US$15 million. But we got a report that a second hand crane was allegedly bought.

“When we tried to get at the bottom of it all by inviting the Plipdeco board of directors to a committee meeting at Parliament, all kinds of stumbling blocks were placed in our path. We were told we had no powers to call them.”