Thin FOI Disclosure Puts Spotlight on Constituency Spending

Last week, we told you that after months of waiting, the Office of the Prime Minister finally responded to a freedom-of-information request from social activist Jerry Enriquez. He wanted a clear breakdown of how public funds are distributed, spent, and accounted for. But what he got back was a single‑page summary, something he says falls far short of transparency. So, when we caught up with Caribbean Shores Area Representative Kareem Musa, we asked him whether he keeps track of the fifteen thousand dollars he receives each year for his constituency.

 

Paul Lopez

“Have you been keeping record and account of your constituency development funding?”

 

Kareem Musa, Area Representative, Caribbean Shores

“Yes, I have.”

 

 

 

Paul Lopez

“Are you willing to open the book to the media to show us how those tax payer’s money are being spent?”

 

Kareem Musa

“Each area representative, both UDP and PUP as you have seen, we get an allocation each month. It varies based on your constituency numbers. Those recipients have all been forwarded to the Cabinet Secretary Office, to the Ministry of Finance. So, they have the records. It is now up to them based on the FOIA request to see if they are going to release all those records. I know it is bulky and could probably fill up this room we are in right now. It has been several years since we have had the benefit of the Community Development Fund. The receipts are many but those are in the possession of the Cabinet Secretary.”