Opposition MPs labels Social Cohesion a mockery - Say no evidence of fruitfulness under budgetary allocation

Opposition MPs labels Social Cohesion a mockery – Say no evidence of fruitfulness under budgetary allocation

Dec 09, 2018 News

People’s Progressive Party, (PPP) Members of Parliament, Allister Charlie and Yvonne Pearson, have been critical about the Ministry of Social Cohesion.

PPP MP Allister Charlie

During the 2019 Budget debates, Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton was heavily criticized for what the Opposition Parliamentarians termed “unfruitful” expenditure under the budgetary allocation.
In his presentation, Charlie told the House that the 2019 Budget is riddled with programmes projected for wanton wastage and extravagant spending.
The Parliamentarian said that there has been no evidence of profitability under the expenditure for the Ministry of Social Cohesion. Under Budget 2019, the Ministry of Social Cohesion is slated to collect $480 million.
The sum is basically to help the Ministry conduct outreaches and events, such as Social Cohesion Week, Harmony Village and inter-village activities.
However, the Opposition has been vocal in their criticism over how the Department is being managed. The PPP MPs like Charlie have been questioning the spending.

PPP MP Yvonne Pearson

“What has been the direct result of the expenditure under your Department?” Charlie asked Norton during the Budget debates.
“Have sportsmen and women been able to convert their participation in athletics to make a comfortable living and a meaningful contribution to the country?”
“The answer is a blatant no,” he added.
Sports success is more than recreation facilities and buildings; it is about participation in world-class sport.
Three and a half years, this government, which criticized the PPP still has no developmental strategy.
“You are just contributing to wastage. Throwing more money at the problem but there’s no strategy.
The allocation must enable citizens to contribute to their own development and on a national scale,” Charlie added

Minister George Norton

His colleague Yvonne Pearson also criticised the Government’s side for making a mockery of Social Cohesion.
She referenced the controversial remarks made by Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, in which she declared her preference for giving jobs to fellow party members. Such remarks are not what is expected from Social Cohesion.
She noted that Minister Norton, in his efforts at bringing the nation together, must start with the Government.
Over the past year, Minister Norton noted that there were a number of training sessions and workshops on Social Cohesion. More than 4000 persons across the country benefitted from the sessions.
Under his department, Dr Norton noted that there were also several cultural and sports and youth activities geared towards achieving the mandate over Social Cohesion.
In his Budget Presentation, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan noted that the administration had long recognised the less-than-satisfactory state of affairs with respect to cultural and ethnic tension in this land of six peoples.
This is why we have continually supported a national drive for improved social cohesion and relations amongst our citizens. It is incumbent on us to lead the way towards realising a society that is more cohesive, inclusive, empathetic and respectful.
We need to stop bombarding our people with constant negativity. In 2019, we have budgeted over $480 million for the Department of Social Cohesion to conduct outreaches and events, including social cohesion week, harmony village and inter-village activities.
According to Jordan, the training will also be undertaken in mediation, conflict management and peace building. These activities exclude those that will be implemented by the Ethnic Relations Commission.
“However, we must recognize that no government can advance a nation‘s socio-cultural state on its own, it requires the will and support of the people.
Our political and community leaders, and private sector and civil society must take deliberate steps to ensure that ethnic and cultural tensions do not rend our nation asunder,” Jordan said.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News