Opposition Senator Carlos James expressed frustration regarding the availability of the estimates (the budget) and the ability of the opposition to prepare for debate.
He notes that the opposition had not yet received copies of the estimates, despite being told they were sent to the printers. He emphasized that the opposition needs time to “peruse” and “prepare” to hold the government accountable for capital expenditure.
James said that for perhaps the “very first time in the history of our parliament,” the Speaker of the House rejected questions from the opposition and asked for them to be amended. He contrasts this with his own tenure as Speaker, where he asserts they gave the opposition latitude to raise pertinent questions.
He accuses the government of “hiding behind the veil of the speaker” to avoid answering difficult questions, whether intentionally or not.
James details the specific questions he attempted to ask that were rejected or deemed inadmissible:
US Deportees/Refugees: He asked for the government’s position on “third country agreements” where the United States asks other countries to accept refugees or deportees. He questions if St. Vincent and the Grenadines is one of those host countries.
Ministry of Housing Layoffs: He asked about the legal basis for sending home 150 employees from the Ministry of Housing. He argues that a budget exercise is not needed to continue paying salaries or government programs.
James who also spoke to the discussion regarding the “double salary” or bonus (referred to as the “double bubble”) questioned the scope of the payout, calculating that roughly 22% of public servants will actually receive the double salary based on the government’s criteria, noting that the majority of workers in statutory bodies are excluded even though they make up the government.
Regarding the promise of a “double bubble,” James criticizes union leaders. He points out that union leader Boucher announced in a press conference that they would be joining St. Kitts in receiving a double salary. James notes that the now-Prime Minister sat there, “clapped,” and allowed the policy to be endorsed through his silence, leading to the inference that he agreed with it,.
James suggests the government is cutting costs by laying off the 150 Housing Ministry workers, estimating this saves “well over [a] million dollars” in salaries, in addition to savings from not purchasing new materials for housing programs.