Military Museum Subvention Pending

The Ministry of Community Development Culture and the Arts wishes to correct statements and assertions made in today’s Guardian (October 16, 2018) page A10 story, “No subvention from Government: Military Museum reduces staff”. While it is not unusual for several outstanding payments to be made at the close of the financial year, checks in the relevant departments of the Ministry have confirmed that no cheque was prepared for The Military Museum for 2017/2018 financial year.  In addition, the systems, checks and balances for cheque preparation and disbursement are very stringent, as such, the assertion that “it was given to someone else” is erroneous.

Dr. the Honourable Nyan Gadsby-Dolly advised that, “the Ministry, while committed to meeting its financial obligations to support the protection and preservation of Trinidad and Tobago’s heritage and history, it depends on releases to do so. For financial year 2017/2018, requests were made for releases to provide subventions as per the Ministry’s mandate, and another urgent request has been made for releases to meet this and other outstanding financial commitments. Once received, payment of the subvention to the Military Museum will be made.”

The promotion and protection of the tangible and intangible elements of Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural heritage can only be achieved through partnership with entities such as the Military Museum.  This is critical to Trinidad and Tobago’s legacy and the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Art will continue to do its part in fulfilling its mandate to provide support.