Ministry of Finance confirms that ministers can be issued a government funded credit card

A circular from the Ministry of Finance has shown that there is provision for ministers of government to be issued a government funded credit card.

The matter came up for discussion in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, following questions raised by the parliamentary opposition about the appropriateness of a credit card issued to former Education Minister Ruel Reid.

The circular, updated in September 2009, and located on the ministry's website, states that a card, referred to as an individual credit card, should be issued to only ministers of  government, permanent secretaries, heads of departments and chief  executive officers of  executive agencies and public bodies.

For the acquisition of a credit card for a minister, the Permanent Secretary must obtain the written approval of the Financial Secretary.

The Ministry has also provided guidelines for approval, which include the name and post of the accounting officer responsible for monitoring and reporting on the use of  the credit card and the name and person authorised to use the card.

Dr Grace McLean, acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, speaking at Wednesday morning's Post Cabinet media briefing, explained that approval was granted by the Ministry of Finance for Mr. Reid to be provided a credit card on September 29, 2016.

She affirmed that the Ministry of Education does have a monitoring system, which means that “once the credit card is used, the bills are submitted; there’s a reconciliation that is done with bills that are provided by the bank…”

The Ministry of Finance has also placed a cap on the amount of money on the credit card issued to a minister.

That limit stipulates an expenditure of no more than J$250,000, and for an international credit card, no more than US$2,500.

As it relates to an international dual currency card, the Ministry of Finance says a combined total equivalent to no more than US$2,500 will be approved.

Karl Samuda, the Minister responsible for Education, responding on Tuesday to questions tabled in relation to Ruel Reid, told the House of Representatives that the credit card issued to the former Education Minister had a limit of  US$3,800 and was payable by the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry of Finance has instructed that a credit card issued to a Government Minister must only be used for the purpose of meeting unforeseen and unavoidable expenses while on official duties.