CDF in record-setting half-hour sitting!
More than 30 projects approved in 30 minutes
MORE THAN 30 projects sent to parliamentarians at the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) committee of Parliament were yesterday morning approved in a record-setting, half-hour sitting. The sitting is usually an hour long. CDF Chairman Everald Warmington rushed through the projects, minus his usual narrative regarding some of them, seemingly with another item on the morning’s agenda. Except for two queries about the placement of signatures from Member of Parliament Robert Montague, who is the minister of national security, Warmington, a stickler for details and procedure, said the approved signatures should not be at the back of the documents.
It was not immediately clear where they ought to be placed as Warmington left the chamber at 9:36 a.m., telling the committee that he had another meeting to attend.
Multiple projects were approved for Montague (five), followed by members of parliament Alando Terrelonge (three); Ronald Thwaites (three); Richard Azan (three); Derrick Kellier (two); Audley Shaw (two); Peter Bunting (two); Morais Guy (two); and Victor Wright (two). There was one each for MPs Dave Brown, Marisa Dalrymple Philibert, Evon Redman, Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, Horace Dalley, Floyd Green, and Denise Daley.
Morais Guy’s project for $5.5 million was the most expensive sent to the committee, followed by Montague’s $5-million request.
Most of the projects sought assistance for economic enabling, sports and disaster mitigating programmes, while others include summer programmes for students who will shortly go on holiday. Implementation is shared between the Social Development Commission and the municipal corporations.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:33 until July 4.