Row erupts over Education Ministry’s travel budget
A heated exchange broke out in the House of Assembly yesterday after Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy “Buddha” Mather questioned the Education Ministry’s overseas travel expenses over the past two years.
Mather asked for a breakdown of the total number of trips taken, associated costs, and the time ministry staff spent abroad on official business.
In response, Education Minister Sharie de Castro defended the ministry’s travel, emphasizing its alignment with strategic goals in education, youth development, and sports. “Every trip undertaken is designed to bring back tangible benefits, strengthening our policies, programmes, and institutional capacity,” she stated.
De Castro highlighted the ministry’s participation in events such as the 2023 Global Robotics Championships in Singapore, which she said provided valuable networking opportunities and benefits for the territory’s education system.
However, Mather raised a point of order, arguing that de Castro’s response did not directly address his specific questions. House Speaker Corine George-Masicotte intervened, advising the minister to provide a concise summary.
De Castro then revealed that ministry officials—including ministers, senior staff, principals, teachers, students, and youth representatives—took nine official trips in 2024, with a total travel budget of $157,837.94. She compared this to the House of Assembly’s travel budget of $304,447.30. “Given the debate we’re having, it’s worth noting that those nine trips combined were almost the cost of a single trip for the House of Assembly,” she remarked.
The debate comes amid broader concerns over government travel expenses. Mather previously pointed out that the government’s travel budget was nearing $3 million for 2024, calling for greater transparency and accountability. Meanwhile, Territorial At-Large Representative Lorna Smith criticized the government’s decision to send an eight-member delegation to London for a two-day meeting, calling it a “blatant waste” of public funds.
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She didn’t want anybody to know about the thousands of dollars she spent in travel on tax payers dime with no results to show. This young lady is very r**e. She then went on to mention about the travel cost for the House of Assembly. Could you imagine this? Disrespectful!
We could have more concerts if they stopped traveling.
Wha bout deh stimulus?
WAS OUR WANNABE SPEAKER , AND WRNT TO THE UK , THE SAME UK THAT HE KEEPS ON REDICULEING WITH HIS RACIST NARRATIVES WHAT WAS THE COST OF THAT TRIP ALONG WITH HIS ENTOURAGE OR BODY GUARDS ,AND WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE AND WHAT DID HE BRING BACK ❓️ / INQUIRING MINDS WOULD LOVE TO KNOW ❓️ / IS IT HOW TO BE A JUDGE – JURY & EXECUTIONER ON PEOPLE ) BECAUSE THAT DUDE IS ON THE LOOSE , AND WD MUDT GIVE CREDIT TO OUR PREMIER FOR HIS ONE GOOD ACHIEVEMENT , AND THAT IS DROPKICKING HIS RA** OUT OF THE HOA , THANK YOU SIR / BUT NOW HE IS JUST FLEXING OFF ON HIS THRONE IN HIS YELLO SITE WITH A LOT OF EVILNESS ON THOSE HE DON’T LIKE • LET US PRAY FOR THAT NI**A TO REPENT AND PUT ALL HIS KNOWLEDGE IN DOING THE RIGHT THING
Maybe we could get our roads paved if they stopped traveling.
what a thing to tell the king
Does this gentleman Mather HATE miss.decastro – always picking at her??? How come sir you didn’t open your mouth when your boy turnbull insulted the same lady.
I know you want position, but it’s results of your work that would get votes. Picking on the same lady is going to send you out looking a JOB – foolish one.
Mather has a more proven and solid background than that child minister. You vex because she could not answer his question straight forward and trying to sling mud. Well, Mather has YEP and DeCastro has what if she fails to be re-elected…??? Yeah I thought so. Maybe she can go back to teaching English somewhere…
She showed her immaturity and condescending nature in the HOA. The opposition held the government accountable and ensured no more of the usual FLUFFY answers that evade the questions. BAM bam bam in she….
Hon. Turnbull told her exactly what most of us would like to tell her when she is spewing off BS in HOA and elsewhere. The young lady is all smoke and mirrors, ZERO substance. Outside of poems and STEM, name one thing she has done in here 6 years as Minister of Education. All they have succeeded in doing is dismantling everything Myron Walwyn did as Minister and cannot replace/upgrade anything. Do not take my word for it, look at the facts. I’m also disappointed in the opposition, particularly Myron for not highlighting that this young lady is a threat to our young people’s future, she is a former teacher that ran away from challenges at ESHS and is not fit to lead our Education Ministry.
She taught for a few years couldnt handle the classroom atmosphere then want to be getting down hard on the teachers. Right now she meeting with the teachers of school. I am sure she coming to make noise.
But yet for about half the term no working printing in the public schools. It’s why i got no respect. A technical school is needed here in the bvi before she push it. She was allegedly secretly trying to close it. Hon. Mater upset she came and at the teachers trying to find out who told him.
“voting has consequences”
LIL DE DE , IS SAYING )> WHATS THE MATTER BRO , YOU GAH AH PROBLEM TOO
This child has a problem and that problem is herself. Talk like an adult act like your job description not here shooting venom and trying to deny. You said nine trips✈️ amounted to one HOAtrip you should be ashamed to say that cause it’s your boss Sloman the globe trotter racking all the mileage. Lord I hope UK come soon cause we going to hell in a basket