Concord Times (Freetown)
Rachel Horner
3 December 2008
Minister of finance and economic planning Tuesday registered his disappointment over the promises made by donors towards the government budget, saying they are yet to fulfill them.
Various ministries have been complaining that most of their tender bills were not adhered to by the ministry of finance whilst others were unable to use all the budget allocation.
David Carew, who was speaking to Concord Times from Paris, said part of the problem was due to donors not fulfilling their commitments. "We are disappointed with the donors," he said. "What they have pledged to contribute is yet to be realized. It is not fair to us."
Carew added: "We are begging them to give us what they have promised as we have based our programmes on their promises."
The minister also disclosed that many ministries have still not submitted their proper paperwork that would enable them get their money.
"If ministry documents are not complete we can't give them money," he said. "We spend what we have and if not all the ministries were able to use their budget, it will be lapsed and they will not get it in the next budget."
However, even if all the paperwork was submitted correctly, Carew said not all the money for the 2008 budget would be available, and that not all the ministries will have the exact budget allocated to them.
"A number of things happened," he said. "We were not able to get the money promised by donors. We didn't get money from the mining companies; for example Koidu Holdings had its operations suspended."
However, Carew said government was able to get some money from taxes paid on imported rice.
The press officer for DFID in London told Concord Times last night that they would respond to the allegations today. Efforts to reach the World Bank and the EU for their comments proved unsuccessful. More details next issue.
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Perhaps, the "donors" have finally seen the proverbial light: that these soupists are thieves. Better invest the money in the "challenged" communities in the USA and the UK than send it to the modern pirates of Africa masquerading as 'political parties.' Silly.
Regards.
The Honourable David Carew's comment is most unfair.Donors have been looking at our records of extravagance and corruption, and are considering soending hard earned taxpayers money on us.We should not blame them, as we asked for it.