Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

Bunting

PETER BUNTING, the Opposition spokesman on industry and commerce, has called for a commission of enquiry to probe the operations of alternative investment schemes.

"Let us learn how much of the public's money these schemes give to political parties. Let us hear how many persons speaking or writing in their defence were actually benefiting financially from so doing," Bunting said in his contribution to the 2008/2009 Budget Debate in Parliament on Wednesday.

Mixed signals

The Central Manchester member of parliament said that, when finance minister Audley Shaw was in opposition, he failed to enunciate a clear position on investment schemes. He said the mixed signals caused many Jamaicans to lose their money in these schemes which he described as, "at best casinos, at worse fraudulent ponzi or pyramid schemes operated by con-artistes".

Bunting's call for a commission of enquiry comes amid the arrest and charge of Cash Plus CEO, Carlos Hill, his brother Betram and Financial Controller Peter Wilson.

A hostage

They were arrested last Thursday in a raid that led police to Hill's Norbrook residence in St Andrew.

Meanwhile, Bunting joined his colleague Dr Omar Davies, Opposition spokesman on finance, in criticising the Government's $489.5 billion budget. He said it was designed to fulfil election promises.

"The budget is a hostage to the political need to be seen as fulfilling election promises," Bunting said, as he chastised Government for implementing tuition-free education up to the secondary level and free access to health care.

He said the Government would do better by improving the standards of these goods than providing them free.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com