By NATARIO
McKENZIE
Tribune Business
Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The Opposition’s finance spokesman yesterday urged the Christie administration to put the necessary measures in place to ensure “fairness and accountability” in the allocation of hurricane relief funding, adding that better planning was necessary to prevent the Bahamas being caught “flat-footed again”.
Speaking with Tribune Business yesterday, K P Turnquest said: “It’s another $150 million to a $7 billion debt.
“It is a hell of a lot of money, and we are hopeful that the Government will put in the kind of management of those funds that will ensure transparency, accountability and fairness in the allocation of the resources”
Parliament yesterday debated a resolution to raise $150 million to finance Hurricane Matthew restoration. “We have been warned that we are in the danger area.
“We just can’t continue to borrow. It is unsustainable,” Mr Turnquest said.
“If we get away with it this time there will be another time. We have to look at this thing proactively and plan better in terms of our expenditure to ensure that we are not caught flat-footed again.
“While I think the Prime Minister did a very good job in warning residents prior to be prepared, the effort after I think has been a little lacklustre, which is I think resulting in some costs and inconvenience that is not necessary.”
Mr Turnquest added: “It’s going to be interesting to see how they allocate and manage the funds that are going to be allocated to the restoration of residential homes, who gets that money, how are those people determined, and who is going to manage that program to ensure that the funds are being utilised appropriately and there is no abuse of the fund.”
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