I noticed that the Government is touting the idea of a $10 million fund for each MP. While we do not yet have any details of the proposed funding as to management and accountability of such fund, I would like to express serious reservations about the idea.
In the first place, this would be a serious blow to the relative funding of local government bodies. If one looks at the Couva/Taba-quite/Talparo Regional Corporation, the geographical area of which includes almost six constituencies, this would amount to $60 million to the parliamentarians. This would far exceed the present development budget of the regional corporation. Further, since a parliamentarian may have a wide discretion as to how the $10 million is used, it would further erode the function of local government bodies, already seriously affected by URP and Cepep and other state agencies.
This proposed parliamentarian funding should be allocated to local government while at the same time seeking to put in place measures to increase the productivity of the councils. I would urge all local government bodies to discuss this matter and to officially reject this proposal. There is also the serious question of eroding the institutional framework of the separation of powers on which our Constitution is built. With this proposed funding, now every MP can be deemed to be a member of the Executive.
Lennox Sankersingh
Via e-mail