While the Peoples’ Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will support the government’s plan to withdraw monies from the Contingency Fund to bring relief to more than 400 households affected by hightide flooding, it must be done in a transparent manner.
Making this statement at a press conference today was PPP’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo.
“I will support the use of the contingency fund for disaster but it must be done in a controlled environment, not these ministers getting their hands on the money. It must be done at a technical level; proper assessment by a technical group of staff from some of the ministries – technical, not political staff – and they just go and do a proper assessment and get help to people. And we will support that,” said Jagdeo.
With regards to government mulling the distribution of financial assistance to those who were affected, Jagdeo said that the same “proper assessment” would be able to determine the level, quantity, and manner in which the funds will be disbursed to the people.
“In terms of quantum, let the assessment determine that. So, we’re not fixed on a particular figure at this point in time, but we will support it,” he said.
