Charles: Pay ex-diplomats!

SEAN DOUGLAS

NAPARIMA MP Rodney Charles urged the Government to pay outstanding terminal benefits to former diplomats who left office after the last General Elections, in a statement yesterday where he urged that no vindictiveness be shown to these people who might be perceived as supporters of the United National Congress (UNC).

“You can find $90 million for the Brian Lara stadium. You can waste money on corruptly acquired vessels for the seabridge. You can acquire million-dollar paintings and find three million dollars for a golf course.

You can pay thousands in roaming charges for a minister. But you cannot meet your commitments to former diplomats,” Charles declared.

“We are told that Minister Moses spent an entire week in New York to deliver a poorly received address to empty seats at this year’s UN General Assembly.

If money is now tight, as they often tell us, did he need an entire week?”.

Charles said these former diplomats served TT with distinction in Geneva, the United States, Jamaica, Uganda and Nigeria and elsewhere, many with decades of diplomatic service as career officers. He said they have been pleading but to no avail, with the Government for more than two years to pay the terminal benefits, namely gratuity, relocation allowances, payments for leave not taken, and in some cases hardship allowances.

“Many of these ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consuls General have commitments including children’s tertiary education, medical expenses, house repairs, and all the stresses experienced by senior citizens,” Charles noted.

“One former diplomat had to get down on her knees and literally beg for a loan from a bank to support her child studying abroad while this government refuses to honor its obligations.”

Charles said some diplomats are taking or mulling legal action against the Government but the Government to do what is honorable and right.

Comments

"Charles: Pay ex-diplomats!"

More in this section