To: jhild who wrote (37883 ) 6/12/1999 3:33:00 PM From: ColleenB Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 43774
Well, I don't see $7Million nor any mention of a Chinese outfit buying up property, but I bet this is the article that the iso was referring to. This article does not speak well of the man, nor does it paint the same picture iso did in his statement. Belize City, September 8, 1998 In the days leading up to the August 27 general elections, the UDP Ministers went on a rampage, emptying the public purse in a desperate bid to stay in power. They behaved as if taxpayers' hard earned monies were theirs to spend. The entire budget for the financial year 1998/99 for the Ministry of Housing was busted by Hubert Elrington, the then Minister of Housing in the past four months. Drowning in his own political morass, Elrington issued approvals for loans and assistance to anyone who would ask. Vouchers for amounts ranging from $100 to $6,000 were routinely being cashed by voters. Under Capital III, the vote for Housing Development, $1.6 million was spent by Elrington between April and August. $50,000 allocated under Capital II was also depleted. The Official Charities Fund which comprises of the sales of lotteries was also left bankrupt. Elrington squandered the $129,000 in this budget. In the three days prior to election day, Elrington gave approval for up to $300,000 in loans from the Ministry's budget with total disregard to government procedures and accountability. Long lines formed on a daily basis at the Treasury Department with persons cashing in vouchers. Today there is nothing to show for the scandalous squandering of taxpayers monies. Not one single house was built. The residents of Lake Independence never got the promised houses but the treasury is broke. Elringtons pi¤ata became a feeding frenzy. Notwithstanding this terrible state of affairs, the new Minister of Housing, Richard "Dickie" Bradley has pledged that he will proceed with the PUP Manifesto to build 10,000 houses in the next five years. Already plans are on the drawing board to kick off the scheme immediately. ragingbull.com