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.... ....   Home  |  Cover Stories  |  National Newsreel  |  Politics  |  Business  |  Sports  |  World  | Contact  | Advert Rates  Towards a better life for the people Search The Archives   Cover Stories National News South West Niger Delta South East North Politics Business Sports World Viewpoints Features   Debt forgiveness possible if... —British High Commissioner By John Ighodaro Wednesday, October 27, 2004 PORT HARCOURT — THE British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Gozney says  debt forgiveness by the  international community is possible if the various governments in Nigeria show transparency in the spending of public funds. He also challenged Houses of Assembly in the Niger Delta to ask their executive arms to account for the N4 to N5 billion they  receive from the Federal Government every month. The British High Commissioner was part of the European Union (EU) team that visited the Rivers State House of Assembly as  part of their fact-finding tour of the state. The team, led by Mr. Leonidas Tazapsidis also had in his entourage, Ambassadors of France and The Netherlands Mr. Yves  Gaudeul and Mr. Aart Jan Verdegaal respectively. Also in the team was the Charge d'Affaires of the Italian Embassy, Mr. Massimilliano Lagi among others. Gozney was reacting to remarks by lawmakers indicating that the oil producing states especially Rivers State had been neglected  and marginalized by the Federal Government. He argued that it was the responsibility of Houses of Assembly in the region to ensure there is openness in public spending by  the executive arm. He said it was one way they could build confidence in the local and international community who would now see government as  being transparent in the way public funds are managed. Mr. Gozney further noted that the international community predicates its debt forgiveness policies on certain criteria citing  inability to repay and a commitment to people-oriented programmes and policies as central among the other criteria. Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Tonye Harry who presided at the House however accused  multinational oil companies of being responsible for the crises in the Niger Delta. He said the oil companies operate in the region without regard for the feelings of the host community. According to him, the oil companies continue to “pay lip service” to the twin issues of patronage and employment of natives and  attending to environmental degradation.   Home  |  Cover Stories  |  National Newsreel  |  Politics  |  Business  |  Sports  |  World  | Contact  | Advert Rates © 1998- 2004. Vanguard Media Ltd.

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