Travels with the Ministers

Why do the ministers charge PRIVATE trips to their office expense account?

Christmas shopping trips? Easter vacations? Audiences with the Pope? Conjugal visits with spouses in Mexico and Venezuela, why do WE have to pay for those?

Or do we?!

According to a recent very entertaining publication, our eight ministers travelled in excess of 812 days, over the past 16 months at the cost of 6.4 million florins

I believe the Green Machine did a good job tracking they whereabouts.

I wanted to do it myself, when I noticed they are all globetrotters but then did not want to spend the time on the research. The Green Machine apparently did.

TOP OFFENDER

Chris Romero, the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications. He was so-called buying buses and telecom equipment in interesting place. His recent trip to Brazil coincided with the opening of the Final Copa Brazil in soccer.

Do you think the company he was buying buses from has the power and the influence to secure tickets to that game?

It’s a probability.

He also took a two week trip to Saudi Aruba, one week in St Lucia – what was he buying there – Christmas Shopping and the New Year holiday in NY, three trips to Spain, Mexico, England, Argentina and 4 trips to Columbia and the neighboring islands, recently Brazil and Cuba, for trips ranging from 3 to 12 days.  

The Green Machine should follow the soccer trail and let us know who played where during his globetrotting 200 days, that’s almost SEVEN MONTHS to track, that would be interesting.

The MinEnviron: He was away 83 days, in familiar places 2 to 8 days, depending on the destination, perhaps for medical treatment. Mexico and the Dominican Republic are the two standout places. What did he do there on our behalf? 

The MinLabor: His list includes 7 trips to Venezuela, I guess visiting his wife’s family especially at Easter and Christmas/New Year. He has been away 119 days, on 2 to 9 day trips, and he loved Switzerland. The list shows two trips to Switzerland, 9 and 14 days respectively, two recent vacation weeks in the USA.

The MinPres: She represents our country, and her trips to neighboring islands, Washington, and NY, sound legit, and short. She was away 139 days. One or two splurges: She visited the POPE in Rome. And went to Panama & Switzerland at the beginning of July. Perhaps on vacation. I am OK with her schedule, though it is hectic.

The MinFec: This world-traveler has a taste for the exotic. She added to her same-old-same-old list Paris, Tahiti, and Cuba, staying away a total of 111 days, on trips between 2 and 8 days, depending on the destinations.

The MinEdu: He has a preference for Mexico where his wife is from. Two trips, during the holiday. Otherwise he was away 83 days, for 3 to 6 days. Bolivia? Argentina? What did he do there on our behalf?

THE REASONABLE ONES

The MinJust: Just 40 days, on trips ranging in duration from 2 to 6 days. With 2 x two week vacations at Easter and Christmas/New Year. Sounds reasonable.

The MinTour: He was away 37 days, for 2 to 5 days at the time, and it all sounds reasonable. I guess his active family life, kids, wife, parents, siblings, keeps him here and focused.

Why do the ministers charge PRIVATE trips to their office expense account?

Christmas shopping trips? Easter vacations? Audiences with the Pope? Conjugal visits with spouses in Mexico and Venezuela, why do WE have to pay for those?

Or do we?!

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July 27, 2019
Rona Coster