POND ISLAND--Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Stuart Johnson wants businesses, especially construction companies, to pay for participation in a government- planned hurricane preparedness forum slated for August 4.
Johnson said in the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday, he cannot in good conscience allocate NAf. 50,000 to the forum when there is still much to do to assist residents still struggling after Hurricane Irma some 11 months ago.
Taxpayers’ money can be better spent on a tourism awareness campaign in the planning phase. This campaign will be executed jointly with the French side government.
It is common practice for businesses to pay for participation in forums and conferences, said Johnson. The cost of the planned forum should be off-set by vendors as they will possibly generate business from the event, according to Johnson.
The hurricane preparedness forum was announced by Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin earlier this month.
