Government Travel Abuse

A perk for government ministers and political cronies who are given the gift of high level civil service positions is that they can fly for free on any airline courtesy of tax payers. They are allowed to board early, relax in their first class seats, and watch as tax payers pass through the first class cabin to the economy cabin. How ironic! It is customary to see government ministers and other leaders of statutory agencies sitting in this first class section. However, providing their entourage with first class seating is not how tax payers expect their moneys to be spent. Colin Campbell's entourage first class seating accommodations on March 21's flight from Miami demonstrates this travel expense misuse and would certainly not have occurred if the fares for his employees were coming out of his own pocket.  So, in a country that is experiencing high financial burden and citizens are asked to "tighten their belts", it is mind boggling to see such  action that not only shows hypocrisy but a lack of respect for tax payers.

Portmore Municipal County - Shame On You

CVM aired a news story tonight on Portmore Municipal County's removal of huge mounds of earth around the Greater Portmore area. An articulate resident made known that the top soil was being removed for an housing development. He also clearly explained the issues that have existed with the removal of so much earth so close to the neighborhood. Among the concerns are the flooding of the land when it rains since there is a pond nearby. Also, another major concern is that the earth removal has caused more alligators to gravitate towards the neighborhood thereby causing the residents to live in fear. No, Mr. Acting Mayor, these concerns are certainly not mischievious. With news cameras buzzing around the neighborhood, it is no wonder that Leon Thomas, the acting mayor, had to come up with an excuse. The lame excuse is that they are only bushing and clearing empty lots to prevent an eyesore. Quite frankly, it is not difficult to communicate information that has the citizens's best interest at heart. So, it would not have been difficulty to alert the residents that the land would be bushed, and this explanation would have helped to prevent such confusion that now exists with residents.  However, when scheming, back-door deals are made, there is never any intention to communicate with the public.  Another example of taking the public for granted