Mark calls for halt to spending spree

He warned against the "expansionary policy and programme" being pursued.

Mark said social, economic, and cultural conditions have worsened over the past four years and a vast majority of people were living in a state of homelessness, insecurity and fear.

Giving his views during the debate in the Senate on the Finance Bill 2006, Mark referred to the flooding throughout the country. He said the PNM has been talking about a dam in Mamoral in Budget statements, but it has not been constructed.

He said the Office for Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) responded very slowly as farmers and citizens lost millions of dollars worth of belongings. Mark said the people of Caparo requested 51 mattresses from ODPM, but none has been provided. He said people were sleeping on gazette paper. He said the people asked for 251 hampers and were lucky to get 71.

Mark wanted to know what the role of the Fire Service was in the response, since it did not even have a dinghy to rescue anyone.

"You cannot even get a dinghy to take you from your area to an area of safety and we are spending hundreds of millions of dollars and yet still the people are not benefitting."

Mark focused on the "bad" condition of roads in TT and highlighted yesterday’s protest in Point Fortin for better roads. He also mentioned inadequate water supply, and health care problems.

Mark said the wife of a man from Caanan in Tobago went for an X-ray at the Caanan Health Centre but was referred to the Scarborough Hospital. "They told her to come back next six weeks or if they have money they can go to a private doctor."

Mark chided the Government’s focus on developing "mega projects" without locals receiving the training to acquire necessary skills. He said contractors were getting more projects which were being delayed by three months to one year. He said there is a lot of waste and there are cost overruns taking place.

Mark said the gas and oil were not inexhaustible and there was need to focus on savings. He called for the Government to review its expenditure since it was "too loose and reckless."

He called for an investigation by Minister Lenny Saith to investigate the Government paying between $75,000 and $100,000 in rent for 18 months on a building which was to be used by the Licensing Authority. Mark said refurbishment of the building would cost $2 million.

Mark said while the Minister of Finance tried to give the impression that prudent fiscal management was taking place, what was being witnessed was wasteful expenditure.