Following statements made by the Opposition Leader in Parliament last week, the Ministry of Tobago Development has issued a statement on the use of a Government credit card by Minister Vernella Alleyne-Toppin.
"In response to questions raised on the matter of the use of the Official Individual Travel Card by the Minister of Tobago Development, the Honourable Vernella Alleyne-Toppin, the Ministry of Tobago Development wishes to submit, for the information of the public, the following excerpts from the Minister of Finance Circular No. 7 dated 2005 October 04 to all Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Departments and the Chief Administrator, Tobago House of Assembly entitled "Introduction of an Individual Travel Card for Official Overseas Travel and Local Entertainment Expenses for Government Officials and holders of certain offices under the purview of the Salaries Review Commission."
In August of 2004, "Cabinet ….. approved the introduction of an Individual Travel Card for Official Overseas Travel and Local Entertainment for Government Officials and holders of certain offices under the purview of the Salaries Review Commission. Accordingly, on 2005 September 15 the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago entered into an agreement with the First Citizens Bank (FCB) Limited for the issue of the Individual Travel Card."
"3. The card is therefore being introduced to alleviate some of the difficulties being experienced by Government Officials and to provide a more acceptable medium of payment for official overseas travel and local entertainment expenses."
"4. The Individual Travel card (the Card) is a "Visa Gold" card with the First Citizens Bank Limited (the Bank) and…..would provide cardholders with a credit facility to be used for official overseas travel and for official local entertainment expenses."
"6. ii. Local Entertainment Expenses: Cardholders who are eligible for this allowance can now opt to use the Card for such expenses and seek reimbursement from the Ministry/ Department/THA."
"Terms and Conditions of Government of Trinidad and Tobago Individual Travel card (ITC) Agreement between the Minister of Finance and the "Cardholder"
"1. The use of the Card is not mandatory. If however, the person opts to accept the Card, it must be used for all Official Overseas Travel and Local Entertainment Expenses."
It is important to note then, that despite the views which may have been expressed in the public domain, Government Officials in possession of an Official Individual Travel Card can in fact utilize said Card locally for official local entertainment expenses.
"In response to questions raised on the matter of the use of the Official Individual Travel Card by the Minister of Tobago Development, the Honourable Vernella Alleyne-Toppin, the Ministry of Tobago Development wishes to submit, for the information of the public, the following excerpts from the Minister of Finance Circular No. 7 dated 2005 October 04 to all Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Departments and the Chief Administrator, Tobago House of Assembly entitled "Introduction of an Individual Travel Card for Official Overseas Travel and Local Entertainment Expenses for Government Officials and holders of certain offices under the purview of the Salaries Review Commission."
In August of 2004, "Cabinet ….. approved the introduction of an Individual Travel Card for Official Overseas Travel and Local Entertainment for Government Officials and holders of certain offices under the purview of the Salaries Review Commission. Accordingly, on 2005 September 15 the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago entered into an agreement with the First Citizens Bank (FCB) Limited for the issue of the Individual Travel Card."
"3. The card is therefore being introduced to alleviate some of the difficulties being experienced by Government Officials and to provide a more acceptable medium of payment for official overseas travel and local entertainment expenses."
"4. The Individual Travel card (the Card) is a "Visa Gold" card with the First Citizens Bank Limited (the Bank) and…..would provide cardholders with a credit facility to be used for official overseas travel and for official local entertainment expenses."
"6. ii. Local Entertainment Expenses: Cardholders who are eligible for this allowance can now opt to use the Card for such expenses and seek reimbursement from the Ministry/ Department/THA."
"Terms and Conditions of Government of Trinidad and Tobago Individual Travel card (ITC) Agreement between the Minister of Finance and the "Cardholder"
"1. The use of the Card is not mandatory. If however, the person opts to accept the Card, it must be used for all Official Overseas Travel and Local Entertainment Expenses."
It is important to note then, that despite the views which may have been expressed in the public domain, Government Officials in possession of an Official Individual Travel Card can in fact utilize said Card locally for official local entertainment expenses.
It should be noted also that the Circular from the Ministry of Finance has recently been forwarded in its entirety on more than one occasion to all media houses for the education of the national community. Finally, please be informed that there is no outstanding balance on the Card."
End of statement (Reproduced from CNMG)
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