And while the other two members of the Joint Union gave an update on their negotiations with the government, the third member, Dean Flowers, spoke about ways that GOB can cut costs. He pointed out areas where he alleges tens of thousands of dollars are being spent without the taxpayers getting anything near value for money. He zeroed in on rental fees - many ministries and departments have to rent their offices, and that adds up to millions in waste. But which offices cost the most? Here's what Flowers alleged.
Dean Flowers, President, PSU
"I would have looked at our rentals and we've continuously said that there's an urgent need for government to consolidate its ministries into publicly owned facilities and we believe that we could possibly be a model to follow what exist with the Eleanor Hall building. What we want to ensure is that we're getting value for whatever monetary contract and that we don't end up with what is happening with the BAA and the concession company at the airport. But we believe that's a model that can and should be looked at."
"Topping the list for the highest monthly rental is the Immigration and Nationality Department which falls under the prime minister's ministry and they're paying $22,000 to a certain landowner."
"The Ministry of Public Utilities, $17,000 a month. This is monthly. Ministry of Finance and Home Affairs, I guess they're combined in there, we see a contract for $15,800. Ministry of Human Development, they're paying $15,000. Blue Economy, they're paying $14,000 for one of their buildings. $14,000. Ministry of Rural Transformation, $14,000. and this is the shocker, the Ministry of Youth also has one here for $14,000. I'm trying to figure out which building holds the Ministry of Youth that is worth $14,000. And they are others for some $12,000 and $10,000."
"The Honorable Mahler and the Honorable Daly have a duty and a responsibility to make public that audit. We do not wish to hear what they think of the audit, we need to examine the audit for ourselves and determine whether we got value for money."
"If we were to only invest in our office complexes we would save the taxpayers a whole lot of money in the millions."
We could not check with each ministry for confirmation of those numbers but we will be following up. The Ministry of Health and Wellness, which Flowers called out for renting a building for 18,000 dollars monthly, has denied that claim.
