P.S.U. Wants Commission of Inquiry into Fire Sale of Government Assets
The Public Service Union is calling for a commission of inquiry into the sale of government assets, including vehicles and pricey furniture, that were disposed of at rock-bottom prices ahead of the November eleventh general elections. The P.S.U. has issued a statement requesting that the newly-formed Briceño administration look into a recent fire sale in which government vehicles were being sold for as low as two hundred dollars. It is an affront to the workers union which was in dialogue with the previous administration to curtail expenses that were not necessary, particularly during the economic fallout that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Today we spoke with First Vice President, Dean Flowers who reiterated the P.S.U.’s position.
Dean Flowers
Dean Flowers, 1st Vice President, P.S.U.
“We’re a bit disappointed and not necessarily surprised but very disappointed that the fire sale of government property continues and it is something that we believe needs to stop; however, there seems to be absolutely no political will to ensure that those who are entrusted with the care of government assets are held accountable. And so the union is simply doing its part as part of the necessary [checks and balances] that is now needed in improving the economic situation so we thought that it was prudent for us to highlight this practice that continues to prevail each and every election cycle. We’re hoping that a stronger mechanism will be put in place and that individuals who continue to facilitate these kinds of sale of government property are held accountable.”
Isani Cayetano
“Now I notice that you guys are, one: demanding an investigation into what transpired regarding those sales and secondly you are asking for an inventory of all the items that were sold off during that specific period. To what end would this serve, should there be an investigation into what took place and of course for you guys to get a handle of how many vehicles or how many pieces of furniture or what-have-you were sold off?”
Dean Flowers
“That indeed is the whole objective. We are currently in dialogue with the government, with the new administration but as you are well aware, we had been in dialogue with the outgoing administration surrounding cost savings and as part of our due diligence, as part of our analysis to try to identify those areas in which the cost savings report highlighted.”
