Member of Parliament (MP), Estanislao da Silva, demanded all MP’s to hand over unused funds to the National Parliament Secretariat upon return from overseas trips.
He raised the issue in parliament over claims MP’s are failing to account for unused funds after returning from overseas duties.
“MP Eduardo Barreto, alias Dusae, who took $5,000 in allowances on a work trip to Brazil, spent only $2,000 and returned the remaining $3,000 back to the secretary of the National Parliament,” said MP da Silva.
He added the secretary of the parliament is not given money back from all MP’s though.
He urged all MP’s to justify their spending adequately and to return any unused funds after overseas trips.
“I want to know how money is spent, even if it is used for lunch, dinner or going out,” added MP da Silva.
Meanwhile the President of Commission A (Constitution, Justice, Public Administration, Corruption), MP Carmelita Moniz, said funds taken are used for transportation, meetings with other delegations, food and accommodation but concurred any left-over funds should be given back to parliament.
“Commission A visited Indonesia for almost three weeks. We took across reserve funds of $30,000 and we gave back $10,000 after returning,” said MP Moniz.
She said Commission A justified all the expenses and submitted all invoices.
In the meantime MP Maria Angelica dos Reis said she is happy to given back funds as per the legal requirements to do so.
“We went on a comparative study but I had to come back because my father passed away. I am happy to return the funds but where is the legal basis for this,” said MP dos Reis. “Comrade Estanislao da Silva was also in that trip and the two of us returned together.”
In response to the concerns raised, the Secretary General of the National Parliament, Mateus Belo, said it was clearly stated reserve funds are to be used for work expenses which is different to per diems which can be used for individual expenses.
“It is a shame I have to come here to clarify this point but if you don’t give back the money, what happens next is not my competence to comment on,” said SG Belo.
He added though so far reserve funds have not been handed over and he urged MP’s to use their moral conscience and return those funds.
