Opposition not satisfied with London budget details

The Opposition spokesman on tourism, Ed Bartlett, says the Opposition is still not satisfied with the information provided by the government about the expenditure for the Jamaica House Independence celebrations in London.

According to Bartlett, the matter must now be taken to Parliament in an effort to unearth the truth about the spending.

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Bartlett says the Government's press conference on the issue has left Jamaicans with more questions than answers.

Bartlett argues that the breakdown in the near £970,000 or almost J$140 million expenditure did not include costs such as airfares and hotel accommodations for ministers and their delegations.

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He also notes that costs taken on by the Jamaica High Commission in the United Kingdom on related activities were not included.

Bartlett says Tourism Minister, Dr. Wykeham McNeill and Information Minister Sandrea Falconer must provide full details of the expenditure and marketing strategies.

Bartlett, who is also the chairman of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee says going forward, greater effort must be made to raise levels of accountability and transparency in the utilisation of hard earned tax dollars.

radio@gleanerjm.com