Yesterday, the president of the PSU put the various government ministries on blast when he listed the high priced office rentals they had contracted. He did this as an example of government wastage. One of those was the Ministry of Blue Economy. Here's what he said about their offices:
Dean Flowers, President, PSU
"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."
"I see the attorney general here for $12,000. I assume that's the one in Belmopan which is a very beautiful building and very spacious. Blue Economy again for another $10,000."
Today we had a chance to speak to the Minister of Blue Economy task him about those rental arrangements. He said the figures are reasonable.
Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy
"Let me start off by this you know I heard the PSU mention all these places that they claim are exorbitant rents and everything but let me tell you something the ministry of blue economy and Marine conservation is a very relatively new, new just going on our second term so we need to rent, we need rent and I think the figures are reasonable and in fact where we are at right now the ministry is growing already and there are more people being put in as the blue economy expands so remember five years ago there was no blue economy we started from scratch we started from that so to say, government has always been renting. Why are they raising up the fact now why didn't they raise it ten years ago when all these cronies back then were renting nobody said anything I am surprised they are not saying about what happened in the past why till now, but in the case of my ministry it is well justified and we are getting value for our money we pay."
"He alleges that the building you've allegedly rented for 10,000 which is on Seashore drive has a normal rental value of about half that price, how do you arrive at these exorbitant rental prices."
Reporter
"The average man or woman on the street hearing those rental prices might conclude that there is a kickback involved, what would your response be?"
Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy
"Let me tell you about kickbacks and thing this is all ludicrous and hogwash, we are guided by the ministry of public service they are the ones in charge of that so I cannot comment on that but my response to that is it is hogwash I mean you can't be going by that it is a building and it is right by the sea fitting for the blue economy. In fact let me add something else we adopted the park in front we adopted with the community there working together it is a beautiful park where it is now a tourist attraction so that is what we are doing so in terms of just asking how much you are paying it is actually beautifying the entire neighbourhood, and the neighbourhood is very happy for our office to be there."
