REVISED 16/06/2023
The Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs makes reference to an incident which happened on Friday, 9th June 2023, in which images of a Government cheque issued to Minister Alva Baptiste appeared on social media under seemingly questionable circumstances.
The cheque was issued to meet costs associated with the Honourable Minister’s attendance at the 53rd Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly to be held in Washington DC from June 21 – 23, 2023, namely accommodation for 7 nights between Miami and Washington DC, and meals along with subsistence for the 8 days (Including travel days). Although the event takes place over 3 days, the availability of flights, including the need for overnighting and the fact that the Minister would need to arrive at least a day before the meeting and leave at least a day after the meeting, means that the number of nights of accommodation would be greater than 3 days, viz. 7 days.
Although Minister Baptiste has done his part in debunking the disparaging assertions that accompanied the online postings, I am duty bound as administrative head of the Ministry to address the matter as it relates to 1) Concerns about the confidentiality and fidelity of public officials in the handling of government information with which they are entrusted; and 2) Anxieties about the amount of the cheque.
On the issue of a potential confidentiality breach, I can report that the Ministry conducted an in-depth investigation into the incident and we are satisfied that the leaking of the document to social media resulted from a genuine error and was not driven by mischievous or malicious motives. If anything, the Ministry’s investigation revealed the continued need to exercise care in the transmission of official documents and information. This is particularly true in the age of information and communication technology, an age which has brought with it a heightened risk that confidential messages or information may inadvertently end up in the wrong destination or in the public domain.
Notwithstanding, the Ministry condemns efforts by some to capitalize on the latest glitch to commit political mischief and to mislead. For instance, despite perverted references to the cheque as an illustration of lavish government spending on travel, the sums for meals and subsistence allowance are computed using standard rates that have been in existence for over 25 years and have transcended several Administrations. Moreover, these rates are differentiated by region; by whether the traveler is a Minister or Public Sector Official; and by whether the event being attended is a conference or a non-conference activity. Accommodation rates, however, are dependent on quoted hotel rates that are of course set by the vagaries of the market in the respective location.
To aid the understanding of those who might otherwise be misled, the cheque which was posted on social media was in the amount EC$13,360.71. From that amount EC$7,493.19 (or USD$2,758) is to cover accommodation for 7 nights and the remaining EC$5,868.40 (or USD$2,160) is for meals and subsistence for 8 days. These are standard allocations and clearly are not unreasonable when one considers the location of the meeting, namely Washington DC. The total of the cheque in U.S. currency is USD$4,917, which needs to be juxtaposed against the value of the Minister’s participation at the Assembly.