LETTERS

Letter: Government spending cut back Published on Saturday, September 12, 2009 Email To Friend    Print Version Dear Sir: “TCI Net News has learned from two reliable sources that a moratorium on spending of any nature has been imposed on the government for a period of not less than three weeks. This new directive was issued last week.” Exceptions and/or critiques (constructive) to the explanations follow the select responses in part: “…anticipated income for the period will only be enough to cover payroll.” This writer asks, am I to understand that the government operates on a cash basis (collect and pay as you go – Mom called it cash and carry) rather than one of a modified accrual (anticipating expenditures and revenues) basis? “It is unknown if this new financial restriction will affect scheduled payments to suppliers and contractors, or welfare payments.” Absent a sizeable cash reserve, there are going to be continued major problems with liquidity and the government’s ability to borrow new monies, hence, further shortfalls, more non-payments and further overdraft facilities. “In a press conference last week covered by TCI Net News, Minister of Finance Royal Robinson reported that he found $45 million in old bills that he claimed the government was not aware of.” We must all be honest to ourselves and just quiver over this statement. Why? Because we all know that the Honorable Royal Robinson is well above his head as the Minister of Finance. To add insult to injury, his Permanent Secretary of Finance, Mr Delton Jones, is the very one who had the former Minister of Finance, Mr Floyd Hall, who is a CPA, believing capital and operating expenditures were the same. If Mr Jones can fool Mr Hall he sure can fool and manipulate Mr Robinson. “Permanent Secretary of Finance Delton Jones could not be reached for comment after numerous attempts and his phone service indicated his voice mail was full and could take no further messages.” Mr Jones, shame on you. You can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. If the pot is too hot, get out of it or turn the heat down low! “Floyd Seymour, Leader of the Opposition, was reached by phone and he commented that he had been forecasting the current conditions for a long period of time and financial mismanagement was one of several reasons he submitted the motion for a vote of no confidence in the Misick cabinet months ago.” This is what one would call the Monday night quarterback; the game can be well called after it has been played and viewed; to do that I can call on my one-year-old son, so why would our aspiring want-to-be next premier have us all for fools? Mr Seymour, let Mike continue to do that, and think of ways to make the system better. In all honesty, to sit back, seeing thing being wrongs and through omission (not commission – that’s criminal) do nothing is called “contributory negligence or contribution to the delinquency of an ill-willer,” so be careful as to when to add to already dead issue! “Douglas Parnell, opposition Member of Parliament, also commented, “I was not the least bit surprised at the current shortfalls.” Mr Parnell, to recognize the problem and do nothing about it is not sufficient! You are the people’s representative. You have been elevated to higher office to champion the people cause – that does not mean see and do not see and draw a fat salary. That means open your mouth, raise your hand and do something about the wrongs that are been perpetrated on the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. I hope I have raised some views here. Edward E Smith, PhD.   Reads : 650 Back... Comments: Robert F. Houseman: Edward; I really thought we had gotten rid of you once and for all. In fact, you said it yourself that you would no longer be commenting on TCI politics. I would once again suggest you go back to your factory floor in America where you are and try to save some American jobs. It was the Opposition that caused the British Government to be here undertaking the re-construction of TCI Finances. What an opposition of three has achieved in less than three years is something that no other Opposition has achieved in past years of corruption by any party. My advice to you is that you should come and live amongst the TCI people and understand the politics of your long lost country, or stay out of our affairs; we have enough expats doing the same here to us now. Back... Send us your comments!   Send us your comments on this article for publication in our Readers' Forum or as a Letter to the Editor. All fields are required and in the interest of openness and transparency we will no longer accept anonymous submissions. 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