Seiveright doesn't determine travel arrangements

THE EDITOR, Sir:

In a column penned by Patria-Kaye Aarons in The Gleaner Wednesday June 13, Ms Aarons started off noting that Mr Delano Seiveright' s airline ticket to New York, on government business, was J$422,193. Unfortunately, through no fault of Ms. Aarons', this figure is inaccurate.

The correct figure is J$145,000, a very long distance from J$422,193. The error is in the official document sent by the Ministry of Tourism to the Public Accounts and Administration Committee (PAAC).

That document is currently being reviewed.

Mr Seiveright, like other government representatives, has very little involvement in official travel arrangements. That is the remit of a select officer in the ministry who coordinates with a travel agency.

Finally, Mr Seiveright' s travels, for which he is not responsible for deciding, are generally on significant and well-publicised tourism minister-led engagements that have resulted in very substantial returns in tourist arrivals, revenues, and investment.

Ministry of Tourism