PM: Mind your Business production cost was ‘minuscule’

THE Prime Minister says the production cost of his Mind Your Business programme was “minuscule.”

He was responding to prime minister’s questions in the House yesterday from Princes Town MP Barry Padarath on the cost of the two-part address to the nation, which aired on the evenings of January 6 and 7.

Dr Rowley said the airing of the “informative programme” was done at no cost to the State, as Government used a facility under licence management which exists with broadcasting agencies.

“With respect to the production, all the costs are not in. As soon as the question is filed I can make that available,” he said.

“I just want to advise the member that in this life there is nothing that is free. A cost exists. And I can guarantee to the national community at large that the cost of this production was minuscule as compared to what they were paying for communication.”

Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal asked when and where the programme was recorded and what was the audience. Rowley said the programme was recorded at the National Academy for the Performing Arts a couple days before the broadcast and before a public audience.

Padarath asked if the production was contracted out to a private entity. Rowley responded that it was contracted out to “some production house” engaged by the Prime Minister’s Office. Oropouche West MP Vidia Gayadeen-Gopeesingh asked Rowley what is “minuscule.”

He responded: “If you compare a flea to an elephant, the flea is minuscule in size but the elephant is large.”