Run With the Bag

The outrage resulting from the revelation of the compensation packages involved in the FINSAC enquiry has  been widely reported in the Jamaican press. Radio Jamaica (RJR), TVJ, CVM, Hot 102, The Gleaner, The Jamaica Observer - all have reported this debacle. Nevermind the report in the Sunday Herald. This is shame and scandal, with or without familial ties.

"Value-for-Money" - that is a well known standard form response by the government for the unconscionable, extravagant and extortionist compensation packages that are now becoming a vexatious characteristic of this JLP regime.

The Bruce Golding-led JLP has never been "value for money".  Colossal sums were spent on a two year campaign only to win by less than 3,000 votes. The Bruce Golding-led government has carried on the same wanton abuse of money - this time with government revenue (and not private funding, the UFO's being exhausted).

• What is likely to be the final outcome of this so-called FINSAC enquiry given the undue reliance on memory? 
• Would not a forensic audit have provided a more reliable and accurate account of how the money was spent/lost and decisions arrived at in the particular circumstances?
• Is there not an appearance of a conflict of interest where the legal counsel to the commission and the attorney marshalling the evidence are members of the same private law firm?
• The budget is $79 million for approximately 70 days. How does this compare with the remuneration packages of the fired governor of the Bank of Jamaica and Hill's sweet deal?
• Is the daily rate approximately $1 million applicable to any part of a day or is it adjusted pro rata given the frequency of aborted sittings? 
• What mechanisms are in place to minimize the likelihood of overruns, resulting in the commission sitting in concrete?
• The commission is expected to produce a report.  What happens next? How will those who have been adversely affected by state action be compensated? Is there any real possibility of redress or is this merely an exercise to fodder an election campaign?
  

In the end ( whenever that is) there is likely to be no action; not even a bag-a-mouth but costing the taxpayer a bag-a-money. This has given new meaning to "run-with-it". $216,000.00 per day must be a good roast for a retired anything.

"Value-for-money" is an assessment of outcomes - not of promises or expectations.