What did previous governments do with the money? Premier asks
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has questioned how governments over the past 20 years have spent budget surpluses, suggesting that the territory’s infrastructure was neglected because resources were not allocated in the way they should have been.
“In the past, we had the recurrent revenue being a lot smaller than it is right now. We had a big recurrent surplus and we could fund our capital projects just out of our recurrent surplus,” the Premier said.
He continued: “You’re talking about recurrent surplus of $50, $60 million, and we really have to look back in the past and see, how we spent the money, how much of that money did we invest in our water distribution network? How much of that money did we invest in our roads, our ghuts, etcetera?”
The territory’s leader also contended that even though roads were paved over the years, the supporting infrastructure such as proper drainage had not been put in place.
“So we’ve gotten to a point where the roads are completely in disrepair because over the past 20 years, we haven’t been making the investments in the roads, and then we expect [Public Works] Minister [Kye] Rymer to work a miracle on the roads,” the Premier added.
Rymer had no equipment
Among other things, Dr Wheatley said Rymer’s ministry had to acquire a paver, roller and mill upon entering office to properly execute road works in the territory.
“Everybody says it. You need, drainage. You need properly engineered and constructed roads and it takes money. You need equipment for good roads. The minister came in, he had no equipment,” the Premier stated. “The minister had to get an asphalt machine. Presently, we have to buy asphalt from a private provider.”
Dr Wheatley further argued that in order to ‘really make a big splash’ in capital projects, governments now have no choice but to borrow.
“Sometimes we are a little shy and reluctant to borrow, but we have to borrow some money,” the Premier said. “And beyond that, you know, you have ratios from the United Kingdom and, of course, I know we have to operate within limits from a responsible standpoint.”
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Look how this m** m** throwing everyone under the bus
In a sensitive time such as this with the UK making every effort to show the public and the world that we cannot manage our own finances, our brilliant premier throws them more red meat made of lies. This is highest level of stupidity I have ever seen. You mean to tell me that we haven’t learnt one single thing from this whole COI and UK invasion of our country? Haven’t we realized that it is the silly and dishonest finger pointing by desperate politicians to get an advantage that formed the basis for the COI allegations?
The money was spent on first class flights, five star hotels, and ridiculously high expenses for completely unnecessary overseas travel, expensive cars for Govt employees personal use, ludicrously high public service salaries, creation of non jobs in the public service, exorbitant rents paid to friends for Govt offices, exorbitant contracts for friends for the provision of services and goods to the Govt, and general incompetent mismanagement.
the answer is simple, look at all the leaders and ministers in the country and the houses and lifestyles they have, there is a reason the money is not there, and it very simple.
Remeber the wages for being a Minister is not very much at all…..
I Know – I Know – them MS Thief all the surplus and a lot more besides. Read the COI and you will see exactly where the money went.
Only now one is asking “how was the money spent”? The corruption has happened for more than 20 years. Any person with an education would understand a budget and the allocation of funds , whether for schools, roads, hospital(s), etc…. Yes. Where has all the money gone these past 30-40:years. Just think, look around and fill in the blanks.
The UK operatives are blogging again. You people must think that we are all stupid.
Honorable Wheatley, It will be great if you can ask those questions to the Minister of Finance, he might have access to the books and records to help you figure out where and how the money was spent. Regarding the equipment, didn’t Mark Vanterpool bought all those machinery not too long ago? I remember them being displayed on the highway for everyone to see.
Look at M****n house, M**k house, O* house, R* house, all Dem man house on the hill. Dem thiefing we all deh time deh man while we here in apartment full a roaches.
Time to for a change cause we get the pocket change deh man
You sound like a jealous UK person who lives in a dirty old flat in London. that’s why you all want to control our country. The descendants of slaves are living better than the descendants of the slave masters. It burning you all.
Get rid of the hecking greedy bill and invest the funds into the country. Stop giving pu**y illegal contracts!
the money is gone, and it is very sad and disgusting that it is gone, it is/was our money, not UK’s.
We must take better care of our business. We must stop the thieft and corruption where they exist.
We must elect hones people with good morals and integrity.
We must install good checks and balances to monitor spending and other moetary activities.
We must do better, because we. can do better.
Not a bad impersonation. But in addition I suspect a lot of US and other properties have been acquired. Quite a few businesses here ( you can guess which ones ) have received income and numerous off shore private bank accounts have been padded.
We need complete transparency in public finances. We need to be able to see where every cent goes.
Thanks for proving that you are.
…let start by finding out how certain seaside properties were financed in the period before 2010.
We all know but lets investigate and prove it.
Then jail some of the crooks.
Hon. Skelton (on behalf of Hon. Vanterpool) bought road works machinery from China for fixing roads. They even brought in the Chinese to show the PWD workers how to use them. What happened to that machinery? Now we are ordering steel buildings from China. Can you imagine the cost of that in these times of even higher shipping rates? BTW I’m not from the UK nor am I an operative. I just have lived here most of my life, pay taxes, use the roads and see things.
Your house full of roach because you nasty! Nasty mind nasty body, nasty soul! REPENT!
Dude stop digging up the dead. Put a coherent plan for the future togather and articulate it to the public and DO IT. Tell us how you are goig to fix the infracture and how you goig to pay for it. Give time lines and dont sleep until they are done.
You are all over the place and responding to every little thing. Hit me up and I will show how to run a political campaign.
You mean he throwing everyone under the train.
the previous government was the VIP government
let’s start with complete transparency at the governor’s office and then the police commissioner
He was part of the previous government that was doing the same thing as the ones before them so what nonsense he asking now?
Natalio do the people justice bring the report that you spent millions on the COI report with that Lawyer and resign. Call an election in March and please dissolve the council.
A lot of it was saved for his government to squander, so he needs to look in the mirror.
So what did Vanterpool say when you asked him? And the road contractors who keep taking the money. What did they say?
What budget surpluses….? There was an at least 8 year period without an audited financial statement from the govt.
It’s time to face the sad truth. Our prior leaders neglected our entire infrastructure. Instead they focused on large capital extensive projects that were ripe for mismanagement and worse. If we had in vested that $7.2million in fixing our waste management it would no longer be a problem. If we had invested the $50million in cost overruns for the Pier Park in our roads we wouldn’t have any problems.
Dissolve the house lets do this thing boss
You hit the nail on the head. One who has no plans for future will add mud to the waters of the past. Now is not the time for his juvenile tactics. No Leadership!
Our Premier is the biggest Political embarrassment throughout the Caribbean.
Some have been spent hiring folks unqualified for jobs. They sit all day and do nothing, but collect a pay check every 15th and 30th. Does that sound familiar Mr. Premier? You live in a glass house, please don’t throw stones!!
This guy is really Sl** Wande. What does he think they did with the money? We in trouble, this j**e of a minister of finance.
The Premier is speaking the truth, this should be the same concern we the public should have and also ask what happened. We all know that 90% of policians back then went into politics with a self serving mind set and they, and 75% have become millionaires, I kept asking why are we paying so much rent in 2023. Why didn’t build 3-4 storage state of the art building. I will join the good premier and ask. Where are all the monies gone??
Where are all the monies gone? That’s the question we all should be asking.
A good recurring source of funds for road construction could be derived from vehicle registration fees. Small passenger vehicles, $200 a year, taxis $500 light trucks $1,000 large trucks $2,000 and $5,000 fine for operating construction equipment on roadways.