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Well done, Andrew Holness
I gave two stripes to Minister of Education Andrew Holness on Monday after reading a rather interesting article in The Gleaner about government ministers and the purchase of SUVs with taxpayers money. While the article did not go all the way to ask some rather pertinent questions, I told My Friend P that it elicited an extraordinary response from young Holness, as he explained why he was driving his own vehicle and not sporting a spanking new Prado, Pajero or Benz.
Holness is reported to have said: "As (part of) a new government, I am very cautious of what the public thinks ... My other colleagues have decided to take the full benefit but just for my own personal view, I don't want anybody to say I am utilising government funds or exploiting government resources."
I reread that quote a number of times, as I actually could not believe what I was reading. Young Holness was not the only one who did not think that he had to get a brand new vehicle. Alongside the young turk were oldsters like Ed Bartlett, Ken Baugh and Dorothy Lightbourne, who chose to drive what was driven by their PNP predecessors, even with cosmetic flaws that needed to be fixed.
Lavished themselves
Meanwhile, it was actually quite curious that among the ministers who lavished themselves with new vehicles was Chris Tufton - the one who wants us to eat cassava for breakfast, lunch and dinner - he has a spanking new Pajero. [I wonder if he eats rice now or if he has cassava and peas with his chicken on Sunday. Hmm] The one who claims mastery on fiscal prudence and careful spending, Minister of Finance Audley Shaw has a cushy 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. And the one who shed the spotlight on those pesky bulbs, Clive Mullings, turns the wheels of a 2008 Benz.
In all of this the most telling quote from the young minister was this: "I like to lead by example. I am very cautious of taking a government vehicle. I contemplated it, I weighed it, but I decided against it."
Lots of respect to the young man who has shown that one must not only talk the talk but walk the walk too. And it was a great day in politics when we could see a politician make a comment that was honest and which makes his colleagues look less than pristine. For my money, if next year or some other time young Holness were to take up his entitlement and get a new SUV, I would not even care. He has taken a road that we can only wish more of our elected officials would take.
I tell you all, new-found respect for young Holness, and sadness and dismay at all the other new car Frighten Fridays, most of whom did not need the new cars.
Email comments to: [email protected]
I gave two stripes to Minister of Education Andrew Holness on Monday after reading a rather interesting article in The Gleaner about government ministers and the purchase of SUVs with taxpayers money. While the article did not go all the way to ask some rather pertinent questions, I told My Friend P that it elicited an extraordinary response from young Holness, as he explained why he was driving his own vehicle and not sporting a spanking new Prado, Pajero or Benz.
Holness is reported to have said: "As (part of) a new government, I am very cautious of what the public thinks ... My other colleagues have decided to take the full benefit but just for my own personal view, I don't want anybody to say I am utilising government funds or exploiting government resources."
I reread that quote a number of times, as I actually could not believe what I was reading. Young Holness was not the only one who did not think that he had to get a brand new vehicle. Alongside the young turk were oldsters like Ed Bartlett, Ken Baugh and Dorothy Lightbourne, who chose to drive what was driven by their PNP predecessors, even with cosmetic flaws that needed to be fixed.
Lavished themselves
Meanwhile, it was actually quite curious that among the ministers who lavished themselves with new vehicles was Chris Tufton - the one who wants us to eat cassava for breakfast, lunch and dinner - he has a spanking new Pajero. [I wonder if he eats rice now or if he has cassava and peas with his chicken on Sunday. Hmm] The one who claims mastery on fiscal prudence and careful spending, Minister of Finance Audley Shaw has a cushy 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. And the one who shed the spotlight on those pesky bulbs, Clive Mullings, turns the wheels of a 2008 Benz.
In all of this the most telling quote from the young minister was this: "I like to lead by example. I am very cautious of taking a government vehicle. I contemplated it, I weighed it, but I decided against it."
Lots of respect to the young man who has shown that one must not only talk the talk but walk the walk too. And it was a great day in politics when we could see a politician make a comment that was honest and which makes his colleagues look less than pristine. For my money, if next year or some other time young Holness were to take up his entitlement and get a new SUV, I would not even care. He has taken a road that we can only wish more of our elected officials would take.
I tell you all, new-found respect for young Holness, and sadness and dismay at all the other new car Frighten Fridays, most of whom did not need the new cars.
Email comments to: [email protected]
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