Warmington gives the boot to Arscott's prize project

Opposition Member of Parliament Noel Arscott was sent back to the drawing board yesterday, as Parliament's Constituency Development Fund (CDF) committee rejected one of his proposed Christmas projects.

Arscott had planned to spend $1.5 million for a sports programme in his South West Clarendon constituency, but committee Chairman Everald Warmington was not satisfied with one key aspect of the proposal.

"Member Arscott, this project ... I'm seeing prize money here and we all know that the CDF does not pay prize money," declared Warmington as he signalled that the project would be in for a hard fight.

"There is one item here for winner, $600,000; second, $400,000; third, $200,000; fourth, $10,000; for the football competition," Warmington said as he read the prize money for other sports planned for the programme.

Warmington later indicated to The Gleaner that he had a slip of the tongue and added an extra zero, with the proposed prize money, instead being $60,000, $40,000 and $20,000.

"Madam Director, this cannot go through. We do not include prize money in CDF projects. Member (Arscott) will you please sit back with the unit and have this corrected and sent back next week," Warmington declared while making it clear that he was in no mood to spend time discussing any project that did not meet the criteria.

Frustration

Arscott tried desperately to defend his proposal and showed his frustration during an exchange with Warmington.

"Mr Chairman, you know seh this is the people's money, not your money. What you tek this thing fah?" bellowed Arscott.

"Mr Arscott, you will show some respect to the chair, you hear me, you show some respect to the chair," responded the fiery Warmington.

Despite Arscott arguing that the project had received the approval of the CDF Unit, which operates out of the Office of the Prime Minister, Warmington would not be moved.

"The project doesn't meet the requirement to be approved by this committee. What is there cannot be placed before this committee to be approved. This committee does not approve prize money. That's a guideline and we will not look at any project that includes prize money."

A determined Arscott then questioned why the CDF Unit would take the project to Parliament if it was aware that it could not be approved.

But Moveta Munroe, head of the CDF Unit, told the committee that the project was submitted for approval at the insistence of Arscott.

It is expected that Arscott will resubmit the project for consideration next week when the CDF committee holds what is expected to be its final meeting for the year.