He’s gone from the UDP’s chief media strategist to the PM’s Press Secretary and today Delroy Cuthkelvin held his first press briefing. He had no breaking or momentous news to deliver, but he did discuss the fact that government has to get a number of new vehicles – how many? He didn’t say. But he did say that Financial Secretary Joe Waight has compiled a list of all those that were sold off to political players, and outgoing CEOs in the weeks before elections. He said one day of sell-outs did stand out.
Delroy Cuthkelvin, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary
“On the 22nd of January 2008, that specific date there were so many late model vehicles, 2006 Prados and 2007 Prados and Toyota Hiluxs and so on that were gotten rid of on that one day, the 22nd of January. And for a new administration that now comes to office, it really has become one of the great challenges for the new administration, besides the overall bad finances which the government has inherited. The fact that Ministers and high level executives in the new government don’t even have a vehicle to move around to get the job done, certainly you don’t expect the government to operate without its Ministers and executives being able to move around. And so certainly the government will have to be getting some vehicles.”
Cuthkelvin also discussed the decision to put a hold on all NHI contracts that had been signed with primary care providers. While the contracts were already in effect and primary care providers were expecting revenue and patient flows by now – he says the government has to first get a handle on the situation – and the means finding out who’s going to pay.
Delroy Cuthkelvin,
“We all know that under the previous administration the whole idea of rolling out the NHI was a precipitous action that was based on no real, no real assurance that there was going to be the kind of revenue streams necessary for that kind of rollout. And so within that kind of context, certainly the new administration has a responsibility to the people to ensure that the whole thing is feasible. And if it is not feasible, how are you going to roll it out. I don’t know how you are going to do that, and if you are going to say that puts the government in a legal bind then I think it does. But do o we blame the new administration for that or the past administration."
Cuthkelvin says he will hold regular press briefings.
