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Joe Waight Says 500K WAVE Media Expenditure is Correct, But Not Quite
posted (February 24, 2015)
Another issue that the Financial Secretary had to address today was a report that's been in circulation from mid 2014 - but is surfacing now in the run-up to municipal elections. It is compiled by a Committee To Evaluate And Advise On Cost Saving Measures. The group, comprising senior union representatives and public officers assesses all government spending and makes recommendations to the Prime Minister on areas where costs could be cut. One such area is media advertising. According to the report, more than half a million dollars was spent on the UDP-owned WAVE Radio and TV in the year 2013. That's an awful lot of spending for a single year, but today the Financial Secretary told the media, it's about right:..

Mike Rudon, Ch5
"There is one figure which says that Wave in particular received over 500,000 in 2013 for advertisements. Again, are you aware of that?"

Joseph Waight, Financial Secretary
"I guess that was in the report and as far as I know it is accurate. I've ask them to substantiate it, to bring the copies of the Smart Stream invoices, but I was told by my people that the number is real."

Mike Rudon, Ch5
"You are the financial secretary, if you say that the number is real, it is likely real."

Joseph Waight, Financial Secretary
"Well I think it's real."

Well, that was this morning, but by this afternoon there was a sharp change in position - and it was right from Waight's own ministry. A press release says, quote, "the figure of $568,453 mentioned in the Report as being GOB's Advertisement Cost paid to Wave Radio for the Year 2013 is incorrect as it actually represents the payments to this media house for a three year period," 2011 to mid 2014.

The government release says quote, "the Committee has given an undertaking to the Ministry of Finance that it will correct this error and issue an amendment to the Report." End quote.

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