Hon. Fahie alleges imbalance in distribution of Govt contracts
The First District Representative made this disclosure during the budget debates in the last sitting in the House of Assembly on December 18, 2012.
"I want to make sure that the Minister is clear for me..to direct traffic, because I understand that being in the government you have first preference, but there is one section that concerns me."
The Public Works Department, he said, stated to him in a report, that they can take no instructions from any elected official and all concerns must be routed through the Minister of Communications and Works.
“I still see At-Large (Members) pick up Public Works [employees] last minute and bring them to the district to look at projects and get it going,” he related.
While being fully aware that he could not dictate how the government is run, Hon. Fahie said he wanted the government to do something about this practice in 2013.
He added that if this was the policy in place, then it needed to be consistent across the board. “If it is the policy just for the Opposition, well tell me and I could understand it better,” he said.
Hon. Fahie told the House, when he made contact with the Department, he was told that there was no money for some of the things that he wanted, but noted that upon observation, At-Large members were contacting the Department and getting projects done. He further stated, “Of course they’re At-Large, I’m not going to belittle them, they were elected, they have a role to play.”
What I’m saying, Hon. Fahie continued, when you don’t have the communication, at least the common decency and respect with the District Candidate you end up with some clashes.
He related an instance of At-Large members distributing work in his district and persons receiving contracts from “both sides” as there was no proper communication.
“I’m doing my best to communicate and I would understand… you have the Government, so you have to dictate the pace, but as District Rep, I’m just asking for a little bit of respect,” Hon. Fahie related.
He explained that he was respectful to the Ministers thus far, “I might be angry and sometimes we might get into heavy conversations, but I never disrespected them.”
15 Responses to “Hon. Fahie alleges imbalance in distribution of Govt contracts”
Andrew, really? Do you know the meaning of "imbalance". When you were in, your WE boys ruled the route. Remember when you had them playing with that dirt. You stopped the project because it was not ALL WE trucks. What about the park, who were awarded contracts for that. Come on Fahie. Go and pray to your 'Great God of the universe' to help you to be fair, cause you should be the last one to talk that crap.