MP’s Tanzania trip to cost $80,000

A delegation of Cook Island members of parliament is to attend a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting in Tanzania

A delegation of two Members of Parliament is to travel to Tanzania, Africa on Friday to attend a meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). Accompanying the delegation is one member’s wife and an official from Parliamentary Services.
The Times has been informed that Cabinet considered the travel two weeks ago and that the cost noted on the Cabinet Minute was $80,000.
While the CPA is an MP’s own private club, travel costs come out of the Civil List which is public money.
The Times understands one Minister declined to go on the grounds that he would not be able to justify the cost to his constituents. Another MP volunteered to go in his place.
This MP was named leader of the delegation but was upgraded from economy class when it was learnt the other MP was traveling in first class after Cabinet agreed to his request for an upgrade.
At issue here is not the fact that MPs are entitled to attend meetings of their private, exclusive club but the fact that public money is being used to fund the trip. So the question which arises is this; “Is the trip in the public interest?” We are not privy to the reasons, the meeting agenda, the issues to be discussed and the importance of the meeting.
The CPA is organized along regional lines and there would be no arguments if our MPs were to attend a meeting in the Pacific region because of the commonality of problems and issues. However, it is hard to envisage what we have in common with Tanzania or the East African region.
While the Times knows the names of those traveling to Tanzania, the central issue is not their names. No blame or criticism should be directed at them but at the undesirable culture and principles surrounding the whole area of MP’s travel which have been allowed to develop and been condoned. For instance, trips which appear to be approved because of party loyalty.
As one member of the public has put it, “of broader concern is the amount of travel by Minister’s, MP’s and government officials and whether or not, their travel will accrue any tangible benefits to the country especially at a time where there is political uncertainty, the country is facing an economic downturn as a result of the global recession and huge financial commitments with little evidence of immediate economic benefit or return to boost our flailing economy.”
He adds, ”Government needs to take responsibility and demonstrate restraint and accountability knowing full well, that various sectors in our society are suffering and much needed projects are being neglected because of the lack of government commitment, priority and resources such as quality water and waste management issues in Ruaau.”

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