THE Parliamentary Opposition Group has described the statement made by the Office of the Prime Minister &Cabinet (OPMC) regarding the Red House as disrespectful and belittling to the Speaker of Parliament.
The Opposition Group was referring to the OPMC statement which quoted the Ministry of Infrastructure Permanent Secretary Henry Murray stating that the Red House is run-down and unfit for occupation by any top leader.
“So why force the Speaker to reside there if it is unfit for occupation? Isn’t the Speaker a top leader in our country? The statement made by the OPMC and PS MID is disrespectful and belittling of the Speaker of the National Parliament.
“The Speaker is also the chairman of the electoral commission the highest democratic body in this country and also the deputy Governor General apart from his position as the Speaker of Parliament. So why did OPMC and MID allow him to reside there in the first place if that was the case. This is a dishonorable statement from OPMC and MID” it said.
The Opposition Group said the attempt by OPMC and PS MID to explain themselves only makes them look foolish.
The statement said the previous Prime Minister has left the house in very good condition and the current Speaker could have not survived the past 15 months if the state of the residence was truly unfit for occupation.
“Enough of excuses and do the right thing. The current Prime Minister was very vocal about former Prime Ministers living at their own residences at the expense of taxpayers when he was the Opposition Leader; but never practiced what he preached” it said.
The Opposition Group says all the talks of demolition and building of new official residence for the Prime Minister are long term plans which at the end of the day was only to allow the Prime Minister to reside in his private residence at the expense of taxpayers for the duration of his 4 year term.
The statement also recommended that an independent contractor be hired to give the true condition of the house and not only bias reports from OPMC and MID.