Imbert rejects claims over travel grant for PM

FINANCE Minister Colm Imbert has rejected Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal’s claims that the Prime Minister receives a special executive travel grant. He did so in three tweets.

In his first tweet, Imbert said, “In April 2006, 14 years ago, an executive travel allowance was first introduced for the Prime Minister, for meals and other expenses, when abroad on official overseas travel.” In a second tweet, he explained, “The 2017 adjustments were made retroactive to 2016 to ensure that there was no confusion with the accounting. However, this had no impact on the executive travel allowance for the Prime Minister, because that particular rate did not change in 2017.”

Imbert concluded in his final tweet, “ Opposition MPs have seized upon the fact that the 2017 rates were made retroactive to 2016 to deceitfully give the false impression that this was done to give the Prime Minister a benefit by way of backpay. However, the travel allowance did not change, so no backpay was, or could be, paid.”