O.P.M.C’s RESPONSE FAILED TO EXPLAIN WHY IT REJECTS N.D.M.O ASSENT

The Parliamentary Opposition Group says the response by the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) has failed to explain why the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) submission was not considered by the Government.

In a statement yesterday, the Parliamentary Opposition says the fact that NDMO as the legitimate body was by-passed and funds diverted to MPs raise more questions than answers.

The statement says the OPMC’s response and the action taken by Cabinet are simply a vote of no-confidence on the NDMO.

It says, it is a well-known fact that MPs are not geared up – in terms of manpower, equipment and resources to take charge of disaster relief adding Cabinet has been used again as a rubber stamp to approve this diversion of funds.

As such the Government also needs to clarify whether the funds are from contingency provisions within the budget or not.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Group says the statement by the NDMO director Loti Yates in the media yesterday has hit the nail on the issue as the effect of the cabinet decision has resulted in the halt of operations in all disaster stricken areas.

The Parliamentary Opposition made this statement in response to the government’s explanation defending the $3.3 million relief assistance funds to MPs approved by the cabinet.