Return $200M? — Mischief!

“Mischief,” said Dr Anselm London, Secretary of Finance/Planning at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). That is how he described the claim made in certain quarters that the Assembly had ‘sent back’ over $200 million from its 2003/2004 allocation to the central government. “That is false, there is not a shred of truth in a statement like that; it’s mischievous!” Dr London, in a visibly vexed mood, declared at Thursday’s post-Executive Council Meeting press briefing as he stoutly denied the allegation.

“I don’t respond very often to things that are said about this administration or about me or any of my colleagues, but I think it is mischievous — and there is too much mischief going around — to suggest that somehow or other this THA somehow returned several hundred million dollars to the central government,” he said. “And I am tempted to say, statements by people who should know better, statements like that are mischievous and we should refrain from (making) them.” The Finance/Planning Secretary asserted that all the financial resources allocated to Tobago during the past fiscal year “remained” in Tobago. What is also true, he added, is that “every penny, and more, allocated by Parliament, did in fact come to Tobago. Those are the facts; if there is anybody in Tobago who knows, I know!” Dr London emphasised.

The allegation was made by a certain commentator on television. The programme has generated much controversy since its introduction a few months ago. Dr London noted  statements like those impact negatively not only on the credibility of the commentator, but also, regrettably, on the television station’s credibility, even though the station was not actually responsible. THA Chief Secretary, Orville London said when he heard the statement he asked himself, “How low can we go?”