DESPICABLE AFC/APNU BUDGET CUTS TAKES TOLL ON ERC; STAFF UNPAID, PHONES & INTERNET DISCONNECTED.
Junior finance minister and former chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), Bishop Juan Edghill on Tuesday stated that there is not sufficient money in the commission's coffers to pay its staff for the month of May.
Edghill made this announcement on Tuesday afternoon at the Finance Ministry during a press briefing to inform the public about the financial affairs of the entity. The combined opposition's cutting of the sum allocated to the ERC from $99.4 million to $1 has crippled its operations.
"As of today, the staff of ERC has not been paid," he said. The minister said the magnitude of what has been done has not yet been recognised. "The National Assembly in budget would have approved $1 for the ERC. While this would have been said several times before, it would appear that persons have not yet come to the realisation that, in essence, that meant closure of the ERC."
Edghill was the first chairman to be appointed to the ERC. He told the media that talks were had with the chief executive officer and finance officer of the ERC to ascertain "exactly what is available to the commission based on disbursements" made. "We are seeking to ascertain what monies are available as a result of those disbursements that would have been made in keeping with custom and practice, and as well as in keeping with financial regulations so as to determine how staff
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