Despite the Office of the Leader of Opposition being a constitutional office, concerns were raised in the National Assembly on Monday over the fact that whenever mail has to be delivered to the office by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, the building is always closed.
This concern was raised by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, when she was called to give account for the money budgeted for the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, where current Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton is supposed to operate from.
When asked by the parliamentary opposition if there will be an increase in the budget for the Opposition Leader’s Office, Teixeira explained that there has been no change in the $32.5 million.
According to Teixeira, the Office of the Leader of Opposition is usually closed whenever her Ministry has to send mail there. Despite this, however, the rent is still being paid at a rate of $400,000 a month. The Minister thus urged that the Office at least be functional.
