BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, June 18th 2014 (TUCOM):-Despite all of its talk the government has neglected to pay gazetted officers their due increments. In some cases increments have been denied for over a year. The police are short on vehicles and the Police Stations are short on necessaries. While this cavalier treatment and disrespect are being meted out to Police Officers, the government has found $100,000 in accommodation support to allow Commissioner C.G. Walwyn to pay Nigel Carty, unelected Minister of Education. C.G Walwyn was the first ever Commissioner of Police to be paid housing allowance.
It is strange that a Cabinet Member would be at the receiving end of a substantial first time housing support paid by government to one of its recruitees. Nigel Carty was able to build his house with duty free concessions introduced by the government. In the first instance, when the policy originated it was intended to assist low and medium ranked civil servants in acquiring a home of no more than $225,000. it is hoped that Nigel Carty is the onlyCabinet member to have utilized this facility to build a home.
Instead of moving to his state sponsored home, Carty saw an opportunity to reap a bonanza (getting his mortgage paid and a profit to spare) and opted to rent his property to Commissioner of Police, C.G Walwyn.
Persons are concerned about the conflict of interests involved in this matter of a Minister of Government securing duty free concessions in the circumstances outlined above and also the Commissioner of Police renting from the Minister without open tender. Transparency and long established principles of good governance seem to be lost on Nigel Carty, the Commissioner and the illegitimate government.
Meantime we are advised that Commissioner C.G Walwyn has left the country for a prolonged period, without any information to the public as to the nature of his overseas engagements. Are they entirely personal? Is it a family reunion? Is it a mix of official and private? Is there a cost to the country? Is our Commissioner being compromised? Can the arrangement with Senator Carty stand public scrutiny?
In an era of accountability, openness and transparency, buttressed by Freedom of Information Act, we would have answers to our queries and concerns.in public interest matters the people’s to know must take priority over the personal interest and profiteering motives of Ministers of Government. Team Unity is committed to the passage of a Freedom of Information Act. Such legislation is available in jurisdictions including Antigua and Barbuda 15 minutes flight away from us.
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