Opposition leader, Ralph Thorne, in a marathon reply to the budget has accused government of squandering millions of dollars under the HOPE housing project, alleged that agriculture is being destroyed, that the work of the Public Accounts Committee is being frustrated and that the Employment Rights Tribunal is stalled disenfranchising dismissed workers.
Mr. Thorne, who under Parliament rules had unlimited time to speak, was into day two of what was the longest ever reply to the budget.
He has been particularly scathing in his criticism of the Home Ownership Providing Energy, HOPE, project and suggested that government frustrated his attempts to investigate the entity as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr. Thorne alleges that millions have been wasted in the project.
Indeed, Mr. Thorne alleges that government’s entire housing thrust has been a failure.
Mr. Thorne also claims the Employment Rights Tribunal is dormant to the detriment of workers who have been dismissed.
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Meantime, government MPs, led off by Labour Minister Colin Jordan, hit back at Mr. Thorne.
Mr. Jordan accused Mr. Thorne of speaking at length without addressing the substance of the budget in the way previous opposition leaders did.
Labour Minister Colin Jordan.
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Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir also rejected Mr. Thorne’s accusations.
Agriculture Minister, Indar Weir.
