If you’ve never heard of government’s 20-year-old programme to help fund new connections to the territory’s electricity grid, you’re not alone.
The programme is arbitrary and lacks transparency, according to an investigation by the Office of the Complaints Commissioner, which was made public at last week’s House of Assembly sitting.
Although the programme involves “substantial public funds annually,” it is not governed by a policy or white paper of any kind, and applicants receive different levels of support without any explanation of why — or sometimes receive no response at all, the report states. The programme is not included in listings of services provided by the Ministry of Communications and Works, and people who apply for the assistance do so only after being informed about the programme by their neighbours or elected representatives, according to the report.
The document was tabled by Premier Ralph O’Neal, making it public, but HOA members did not discuss it. Nor did they discuss recommendations given in the report, such as creating and publishing a policy to govern the programme, including setting standards that make the assistance equally available to “all eligible taxpayers.”
See the April 28, 2011 edition for full coverage.