But, forget about split payments - Perez says government might need to raise the $10,000 dollar threshold on straight payments which require no oversight.
Perez says as a business man he has a different perspective on things:
Andre Perez - Minister of the Blue Economy
"Let me tell you something, the government, the national budget is growing. We have more payments to make. The Coast Guard is growing, the BDF has grown, and my ministry has grown as well. So for me as a businessman, if I am going to be engaging and my CEO cannot make any decisions on the threshold of $10,000 and everything has to go through us… the payments are getting bigger, the increase of costs of just about everything. Then it is time for us to look at maybe the increase of the threshold from 10–15 to 20,000 because as it might very well turn out that these things, payments need to be made. I mean, you full a gas tank right now…."
Reporter
"But it is an abuse, minister."
Andre Perez - Minister of the Blue Economy
"No, you asked me for a comment, you asked me for a comment. And I am saying from a business standpoint, if there needs to be an increase, I am not saying going to 50,000. But again, the CEOs used to make those decisions. As it relates to abuse, that is speculation, but I am saying as a business person, if you fill a gas tank now—you used to full $100 for a gas tank, you full a gas tank for $300 now. So we authorize somebody with a vehicle that you will put $100. You are forcing that person to put half tank or quarter tank. So as it relates to abuse and so, let us not get into comments for that or speculations."
Reporter
"But as a business person, you see accounting where you have those ghost dots for double invoices, won't that raise concerns for you?"
Andre Perez - Minister of the Blue Economy
"Well again, that's what you're saying. I am just saying what is in the news, so I can't answer you on that."
