Thomas: Public money being used for political purposes

Political Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Tillman Thomas has accused the ruling New National Party (NNP) administration of Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of utilising state funds and resources, to help it in its re- election bid.

He made the charge during the party’s Annual Convention held at the River Sallee Government School last Sunday. The NDC staged its convention in the St. Patrick’s East constituency where the incumbent is Sport Minister Adrian Mitchell who Thomas is trying to unseat.

The NDC boss disclosed that the Imani Project, although a noble idea, is now being abused and exploited for dirty political purposes. "Young people who want to benefit from the programme, being financed with state funds, have to go to the NNP party office in the various constituencies” the NDC political leader pointed out.

He disclosed that interested persons, in order to get into the programme, must have their Voter Registration Identification Card. "This means by NNP standards, if you can't register to vote, you can’t eat", Thomas stated. Thomas, a lawyer by profession, noted that in a mad rush to buy votes, the ruling administration is giving election incentives - gimmicks by announcing projects, "left right and center".

"They are giving more projects to their cronies-projects which the rules say, must be tendered. But no tendering is now taking place" he added. Another batch of trainees are expected to be enrolled into the project in February.

Prime Minister Mitchell announced during a news conference earlier in the month, that they are looking to take in between 300-400 youngsters next month. He said that this time around they are expecting to have more private sector participation in the funding of the programme.

Imani, an African word meaning Faith in God, self and each other,  was launched in April last year. The project is aimed at providing participants with an opportunity to acquire a skill, gain employment and provide a service for the environment in which they are sent to train.

A total of 500 persons are said to have registered in the programme so far, with most of them being employed in the public service, with a small group in the private sector. Each of the trainees are given $500.00 as their monthly stipend.