{"id":552,"date":"2011-10-03T15:06:34","date_gmt":"2011-10-03T15:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/finance.gov.ms\/?p=552"},"modified":"2011-10-03T19:03:09","modified_gmt":"2011-10-03T19:03:09","slug":"closing-remarks-by-the-financial-secretary-power-project-launch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/finance.gov.ms\/?p=552","title":{"rendered":"Closing Remarks By The Financial Secretary – Power Project Launch"},"content":{"rendered":"

Closing Remarks By The Financial Secretary, John Skerritt CBE at
\nthe launch of the Montserrat Utilities Company (MUL) on 30th<\/sup>
\nSeptember, 2011<\/strong><\/p>\n

I wish to start by thanking all those who are here today to witness the launch
\nof the Montserrat Power Project:<\/p>\n

The Honourable Charles Kirnon, Deputy Premier & Minister
\nwith responsibility for Energy<\/strong>
\nMinister of Education, Health & Community Services<\/strong>
\nMinister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment<\/strong>
\nLeader of the Opposition & other members of the Opposition<\/strong>
\nHonourable Deputy Governor<\/strong>
\nHonourable Attorney General<\/strong>
\n Mr. Phillip Chambers, Permanent Secretary,
\nMinistry of Communication and Works and Chairman, Board of Directors, MUL<\/strong>
\nOther Members of the Board<\/strong>
\nAllisson Davis, CDB <\/strong>
\nDistinguished Guests,
\nLadies and Gentlemen<\/strong><\/p>\n

I feel honoured to be asked to make the closing remarks but at the same time, in speaking last I fear that there is not much more that I can add.\u00a0 I therefore, crave your indulgence should I repeat anything said before.\u00a0 In fact, I would like you to think that it was repeated merely for emphasis.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know about anyone else but I have faith that this project will be one of the key infrastructure projects that will underpin our development buttressed by the development of Geothermal energy.\u00a0 You see electricity inspires faith \u2013 we can\u2019t see it but every day we walk over to the switch and flick it with the utmost faith and confidence that by some phenomenon, the light will come on.<\/p>\n

This project gives me hope. \u00a0And I need that given my current electricity bills. I am hopeful because I am reminded of Thomas Edison who said, \u201cI shall make electricity so cheap that only the rich can afford to burn candles.\u201d\u00a0 Clearly, this is what we would like this project to deliver but some people may say that this is wishful thinking.<\/p>\n

They may very well be right but cost savings begin at every stage of the project. \u00a0You cannot procure an engine that is expensive to operate and expect to pay less for electricity, you cannot purchase inappropriate materials for construction of the workshop and expect low maintenance cost and you surely cannot manage the project poorly and not have cost over-runs and surely if we had to borrow more, we will all pay not just the loan but also the interest.\u00a0 Today therefore, all of us who are involved or may become involved in the project have a responsibility to make electricity cheaper even if it cannot be less expensive than burning candles.<\/p>\n

It is clear that this is a project that requires multi-agency coordination. Please let us work together so that the synergies accrue to our people.\u00a0 The project has timelines that must be met; go the extra mile to complete the various tasks on time.\u00a0 Individually, we may appear to win in the short term but sometimes we lose far more in the longer term.\u00a0 This is our project.\u00a0 Deliver it with vigor, enthusiasm and with a sense of national pride.<\/p>\n

The Ministry of Finance is keen to ensure that this project is delivered on time and within budget.\u00a0 This means a tight management of the finances, frequent and useful reports to inform timely decision making, compliance with the various regulations to ensure equity, transparency and most importantly, we need good value for each dollar spent.<\/p>\n

There are a number terms and conditions associated with this project; management is advised to ensure that these are brought to the attention of all concerned and that they are met.<\/p>\n

This is a project that has been in gestation for a long time.\u00a0 Having said that, I know we would have preferred the project to have a gestation period of a cat instead of one of an elephant.\u00a0 But we are about to see the birth of this project and we are thankful.\u00a0 I want to wish all those who will become involved in shaping this project into something really magnificent, best wishes and God\u2019s blessing. May it be perfect in all its parts and pleasing to its builder and ultimately owner, that is, the people of Montserrat.\u00a0 The Ministry of Finance is proud to be associated with this project and stands ready to provide any support we can to ensure the smooth implementation of this project.<\/p>\n

It is fitting at this point to thank HMG for the tangible and intangible support they have provided.\u00a0 As I reflect on this journey, the CDB staff must be given special recognition considering the frustrations and delays in getting this project off the ground but as good regional public servants they remained ever steadfast in their support to us.<\/p>\n

As the last speaker and a member of the board, let me take this opportunity to thank all those who have participated in this opening ceremony especially those at the Head Table.<\/p>\n

Let me end by saying that many problems that arise may be blamed on capacity, to this I will draw your attention to the words of Euripides who said, \u201cTen soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head.\u201d In all you do therefore, manage wisely.<\/p>\n

Thank you..<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Closing Remarks By The Financial Secretary, John Skerritt CBE at the launch of the Montserrat Utilities Company (MUL) on 30th September, 2011 I wish to start by thanking all those who are here today to witness the launch of the Montserrat Power Project: The Honourable Charles Kirnon, Deputy Premier & Minister with responsibility for Energy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/finance.gov.ms\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/552"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/finance.gov.ms\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/finance.gov.ms\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/finance.gov.ms\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/finance.gov.ms\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=552"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/finance.gov.ms\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":559,"href":"http:\/\/finance.gov.ms\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/552\/revisions\/559"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/finance.gov.ms\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/finance.gov.ms\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/finance.gov.ms\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}