Eustace promises to pay up debt

Opposition Leader and President of the New Democratic Party (NDP) Arnhim Eustace has promised to pay monies owed to the private sector once his party gets into office.{{more}}

Eustace, speaking at a town hall meeting in his constituency of East Kingstown last Thursday, October 7, said that this is based on information he has received claiming that the government owes between $30 to $40 million to the private sector and other public workers.

“The government owes a lot of money to the private sector – contractors, consultants and business people who did jobs for the government,” Eustace said.

“There are also a lot of civil servants who have not received their traveling and other allowances for years,” he contended.

Eustace further stated that when he asked Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves in Parliament about about the amount of monies owed to private persons, he admitted to $30 million.

“I believe is more now,” he said.

“We can’t just leave it so, especially the business people,” he said, adding that failure to pay the outstanding debts could have adverse effects on the country’s economy.

“They will import less and, therefore, generate less revenue which will mean less profit,” he said.

“So the NDP has taken a decision to close issue and pay off the public and private sector because we do not want people in the private sector having this much burden and end up laying off people,” he said.

“We have to make sure business houses get the money owed to them so that they can employ people and continue to produce goods and services.

“We can’t let this slide or else people will go home and the country will get poorer and poorer,” Eustace said. (DD)