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by pltm
(PLTM) - Governor John Duncan has called on the Premier and his Cabinet members to address wild spending of monies for Ministers to travel overseas.
In a memorandum to Premier and Finance Minister, Hon. D. Dr. Orlando Smith earlier this year, BVI Platinum News understands that Governor Duncan, who expressed many concerns about the Territory's financial standings, referred to the overseas trips as questionable relevant to the Ministers' core functions.
In what he termed "public sector profligacy", the Governor stated that he is aware of and welcome the measures the Financial Secretary, Mr. Neil Smith has in mind to address the overspending by public sector departments. However, he said the issue is deep rooted and has a long history.
"The request last year (2015) to provide $96,000 for catering at a training course for public servants was a particularly egregious example of the mindset that needs to be addressed," he said.
The Governor added that there are many others, ranging from the plethora of departmental weeks and months, all of which have numerous events that need to be financed; the production of expensive brochures to celebrate all kinds of public sector activity; "to overseas trips by senior officers and ministers of questionable relevance to their core functions."
Governor Duncan said, "While I am perhaps the last to advocate a 'hair shirt' approach, many of the current practices indicate the need for the Cabinet to lead a concerted and structured effort to reduce wasteful expenditure."
Ministers of the National Democratic Party (NDP) administration have been labelled as frequent flyers when it comes to the use of tax payers' money to travel overseas. It has been suggested that overseas trips have increased under the ruling party.
In December 2013 in the House of Assembly, Premier Smith provided the amount of monies spent on overseas trips for his Ministers. In that travel report, Hon. Dr. Kedrick Pickering, Deputy Premier was the most traveled Government Minister.
Dr. Pickering racked up $73,737.32, including four trips in relation to the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport expansion project that totaled $31,228.
Based on the report provided by the Premier, the Premier's Office spent some $62,791 in overseas trips, while Hon. Myron Walwyn, Minister for Education and Culture's travels cost $50,678.46.
Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton made the fewest trips and his bill was $40,090.36, while the lowest travel bill in the amount of $17,746 was utilized by Hon. Mark Vanterpool, Minister for Communications and Works.
The information was provided following questions by the Opposition.
No other travel expenditures have been made public since 2013.
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