Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan told Parliament Saturday former prime minister Patrick Manning spent $127,000 to lease a private jet to attend a Caricom Youth Summit in January 2010. He spent another $124,740 to lease an aircraft for a one-day Caricom meeting, Rambachan said.
And he had more on Manning's travels. “This would shock you, Mr Speaker, August 24 to 26, two days (for) travel to Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica and Suriname, aircraft leased at a cost of $790,593,” he said.
Rambachan made the point to dismiss Opposition charges the Prime Minister is spending too much money on travel and is travelling too often.
He said between Persad-Bissessar made 16 trips since taking office. He said by contract Manning made 17 trips in 1995 alone, visiting 19 countries and using a private jet six times. He had other details of Manning's travels:
Rambachan made the point to dismiss Opposition charges the Prime Minister is spending too much money on travel and is travelling too often.
He said between Persad-Bissessar made 16 trips since taking office. He said by contract Manning made 17 trips in 1995 alone, visiting 19 countries and using a private jet six times. He had other details of Manning's travels:
- 2006 - Manning travelled 13 times, six countries and used a private jet seven times.
- 2007 - Manning travelled 13 times, to 15 countries and used a private jet five times
- 2008 - Manning travelled 15 times, to 24 different countries and used a private jet ten times
Read related story: TT$5.3M for private jets for Manning
Commenting on Persad-Bissessar's overseas trips he said they are necessary to market Trinidad & Tobago and that her travels so far have brought rewards.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also questioned the value of two international summits hosted by the Manning government in 2009 at a cost of over one billion dollars
Rambachan also provided economic data to argue that contrary to opposition allegations that the economy is stalled there is enough commercial activity to demonstrate that there is bouyancy in the economy.
Commenting on Persad-Bissessar's overseas trips he said they are necessary to market Trinidad & Tobago and that her travels so far have brought rewards.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also questioned the value of two international summits hosted by the Manning government in 2009 at a cost of over one billion dollars
Rambachan also provided economic data to argue that contrary to opposition allegations that the economy is stalled there is enough commercial activity to demonstrate that there is bouyancy in the economy.
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