Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
TEMPERS FLARED in the Senate Friday as Opposition Senators rapped the Government for its "tardiness" in preparing the nation for the hurricane season.
Opposition Senator Dr. Christopher Tufton cited examples of the Government's tardiness in not providing the required funding to parish councils to clean drains.
He told the Senate that he had conducted an investigation into the allocation made to the parish councils across the country and found that not enough money was given to the councils.
"The evidence suggests that the Government had not delivered and therefore the parish councils have been left in a situation where they are required to do the job but they are not given the resources," Tufton said.
His findings show that St. Mary requested $10 million for drain cleaning, but received only $3 million; Portmore requested $10 million but got $4 million; St. James asked for $6 million but received only $3 million; and Clarendon requested $8 million but got only $2 million.
MONEY IMPORTANT
"This money is obviously very important, based on assessments done by the local authorities, to ensure that these drains are clean. But the money is not forthcoming from central government," Senator Tufton lamented.
He also accused the National Works Agency (NWA) of not doing enough to ensure that the drains were clean.
His Opposition colleague, Shirley Williams, used the occasion to blame the Government for allowing persons to build in areas without permission. She called on the Government to bring in the earthquake unit at the University of the West Indies and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to be part of the process when building permits are granted.
PLAYING PARTISAN POLITICS
The criticism did not go down well with Government members. Senator A.J. Nicholson angrily accused the Opposition of playing partisan politics.
The debate intensified when Leader of Government Business, Senator Burchell Whiteman, sought to set the record straight on permission to build.
In an uncharacteristic outburst, Senator Whiteman silenced Senator Tufton, who had attempted to interrupt him.
"...Today we are hearing these expressions of dissatisfaction with the way the Government has handled this allocated money... Shut up man, I am speaking!" he said as Senator Tufton attempted to interrupt.
Supporting his colleague, Senator Nicholson shouted, "Be quiet and make the man speak!".
"...Why are we continuing to make heavy weather of this matter when, had it not been for this early hurricane, we would not be hearing strident crying?" Senator Whiteman asked.
"What I think we should be doing, as a set of leaders in this Senate this morning, is reinforcing the importance of personal responsibilities."
