“This is the height of fake news” – Minister Hughes clarifies misinformation of money spent on Parliamentary meals

─ responds to Opposition Leader ranting, raving and lying, deliberately misinterpreting the facts

─ “This is unacceptable. We have a responsibility to make sure that our public is informed. We have a responsibility to make sure that the truth is pedalled” – Min. Hughes

DPI, Guyana, Saturday, August 18, 2018

Member of Parliament and Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes sought to clarify misinformation being peddled in sections of the media with regards to the cost of food for each sitting of the National Assembly.

Minister Hughes said: “I feel it necessary to let Guyanese know that we are not an irresponsible group of people. It’s not sixty-five MPs eating $700,000 worth of food at every single sitting. I would not be sitting in the Parliament and tolerating that.”

Minister Hughes stated that the money is used to provide meals for over 300 persons. She explained that in addition to Members of Parliament, meals are catered for Parliamentary staff, as well as media personnel, drivers, medical personnel, security, and other staff present at the sittings.

“The facts are, when we think about the cost; that $700,000 per sitting, everybody fails to realise that that money feeds a total of 309 persons. If you did a quick mathematical calculation, that works out to be $2,265 per person,” the minister explained.

She further explained that an early sitting for the Parliament usually concludes at ten o’clock but during budget debates, the sessions can run until “3 am in the morning,” and in this regard, meals are provided.

Minister Hughes made reference to articles published about “MPs eating and getting fat” and expressed much disappointment about the fake news being placed in the public domain.

“This is unacceptable. We have a responsibility to make sure that our public is informed. We have a responsibility to make sure that the truth is pedalled,” the minister cautioned.

Further expressing her displeasure, Minister Hughes said:

“I don’t know which lounge Mr. Jagdeo goes into, but the lounge I go into…that lounge does not have alcohol. There’s a range of teas, coffee, milo and there’s two sets of juices and there’s water”, as she encouraged media personnel to request entry to the lounge so they can conduct their own investigation.

She also refuted claims made by the Opposition Leader that alcohol is available on the list of beverages at Parliamentary sittings as she clarified that “the only time there is alcohol, is at Christmas time when we have a little party…that’s geared towards building rapport between the Parliamentarians, which I think is so important”.

Minister Hughes noted that for anyone to suggest that the taxpayers’ money is being wasted on alcohol is nothing short of deceitful.

By: Anara Khan

Image: Jameel Mohamed