Not one cent from Treasury spent for Brooklyn victory rally

Last Updated on Wednesday, 17 June 2015, 20:38 by GxMedia

No public money was used to finance a trip by coalition government members to the United States last week for a victory rally, says Minister of the Presidency Joseph Harmon.

Several people, including Harmon, Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman and Minister of Tourism, Kathy Hughes journeyed to New York to take part in an A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) + Alliance for Change (AFC) victory rally held on June 14th.

The rally was seen as important as the coalition is believed to have garnered a substantial portion the funds used to finance its finance from abroad.

Today, responding to a question from a reporter during a post-Cabinet briefing Harmon as to whether the trip, seen as party business, was funded with taxpayers’ dollars sought to clear the air.

“Let me be very categorical about this, the visit of ministers, Raphael Trotman, Kathy Hughes and myself and the other officials that were paid for by the organizers of the event lock stock and barrel…that is to say, airline tickets, hotel accommodation, and transportation on the ground.”

Continuing, Harmon said “not a cent from the public purse was spent on that visit.”

Earlier this year, former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, had admitted that then government officials had used public funds to finance the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) campaign trips around the country.