Swiss treat at whose expense ?
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Was it necessary for the Prime Minister to squander so much money on the pretext of negotiating on climate change ? I am referring to her recent visit to the five-day conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Apart from the Foreign Minister and a few others capable of communicating properly, her entourage was made up of some forty assorted 'delegates'. How were their travel and daily allowance managed ? Did it come from the Taka three billion or so earmarked in this year's budget for climate change related expenses ? If so, was it responsible or ethical on the part of the PM or the Finance Ministry ?
It may be mentioned here that the President of Maldives, an island nation that is widely recognized as the most endangered by global warming, did not go to the meeting because, as the President himself explained, he had no money to spend on traveling to Switzerland. The per capita income of the Maldives is over US $ 3000 whereas ours is less than $500. That shows what the priorities of our Prime Minister is, not hesitating to give hangers-on a treat. But at whose expense, may we know ?
Fauzia Zebun
166/C Devpahar Lane
Chittagong
It may be mentioned here that the President of Maldives, an island nation that is widely recognized as the most endangered by global warming, did not go to the meeting because, as the President himself explained, he had no money to spend on traveling to Switzerland. The per capita income of the Maldives is over US $ 3000 whereas ours is less than $500. That shows what the priorities of our Prime Minister is, not hesitating to give hangers-on a treat. But at whose expense, may we know ?
Fauzia Zebun
166/C Devpahar Lane
Chittagong