• 

  by pltm
• Jun 15, 2022
• 8

(PLTM) - Opposition Leader, Hon. Julian Fraser has pressed the Government of National Unity for explanations on monies allocated to improve water supply in the Territory, but are not being utilized.

During the House of Assembly sitting on May 26, Hon. Julian Fraser questioned Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley about the persistent water issues in District Three.

Hon. Fraser, who is also the representative for District Three, proposed that based on the availability of the allocated funds, there should have been more improvements in the access of water, in this area.

“A tad over $1.4 million has been spent which means that there is $2 million somewhere and you said that that money is accessible to the Ministry of Communications and Works. This means that the Ministry of Communications and Works has $2 million to spend on water and I would see no reason; there should be no excuse, for the difficulties we are going through if that $2 million is really and truly in the hands of the Ministry of Communications and Works,” Fraser insisted.

Dr. Wheatley stated that cabinet via memorandum 280 of 2018, on the 29th of August 2018, approved the total budget of $3, 500, 00 to fund the water network improvement plan. The Ministry of Finance was subsequently tasked with identifying the funding source. However, he explained that since this Cabinet decision was made during the last administration, some of the details were not readily available.

However, in answering the question posed by Hon. Fraiser about Exactly “which sub-head was that money placed in, and who has access to it” and “how much of it has been spent to date, where and how”, Dr. Wheatley stated that based on the information that he has obtained from the accountable Ministries which include the Ministry of Communication and Works and the Ministry of Finance, the head that the money was placed in was 3271100 Water Network Improvement and the Subhead is 58110 Capital Spending. He also noted that the Ministry of Communications and Works has access to the reference accounts and to date, the sum of $1, 477, 462. 99 had been expended.

When Hon. Fraser asked the Premier and Minister Finance to confirm if the allocated funds were indeed within the Ministry of Communication and Works and the exact amount, Dr. Wheatley said that he will further investigate the matter.