A cock-eyed version of public disclosures

Nov 08, 2017 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I have read the answers given by the Prime Minister about his overseas travel since he took office after the May, 2015 elections. Frankly, I have never seen any time before such display of accountability from a high-level politician, who should be commended for his openness.
Instead, the Jagdeo-aligned newspaper censored the account of the Prime Minister, and conveniently distorted it.
In its November 5, 2017 “Eyewitness” the newspaper gave a cock-eyed version of the public disclosures, with the insertion of a blatant falsehood that the PM has “already clocked up $22 million is (sic) airfare for himself and his better half”.
I have looked at the figures given in the answers and the amount in air fares, accommodation, meals, gifts and out-of-pocket expenses. They are nowhere close to $22 million or even $20 million.
I know that the opposition leaders are not good at spelling, but can’t they do simple arithmetic as well!
I have noted that the expenses submitted by the Prime Minister were not for him alone, but other public officials who accompanied him on his travels, including Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira.
The opposition newspaper is having fun in peddling fabrications in the climate of media freedom in Guyana. I recall how it has repeated that $100 million was spent on buying a vehicle for the PM, when the verified cost was $13 million.
What the opposition wants to hide is that our Prime Minister insists on saving public monies on overseas travel, and insists that air tickets and hotel accommodation are provided by the sponsors. For six out of the nine trips since 2015, the Government of Guyana didn’t have to pay for air fares or accommodation for the Prime Minister.
Of course, our Prime Minister is entitled to travel with his “better half”, Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo.
For all they may want to say about our Prime Minister, the Jagdeo gang inside and outside the media, cannot show that he had travelled overseas on taxpayers’ monies to do cosmetic teeth jobs or on a chartered flight to fix a belly ache.
Earl Hamilton

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