Government asking Jamaicans to pay SSL Bills, Buju Banton respond

 Talking to Radio Jamaica, Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke said it is a matter of policy that the government foots the salary bill for staff at the fraud-hit investment firm Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL).

Speaking on Radio Jamaica’s Hotline on Friday September 1, Dr. Clarke said the monthly compensation bill amounts to an estimated $15 million.

“I will come to the public and give further details once they’re available. But we’re talking about 22 members of staff. The staff bill on a month basis is $9.5 million. There are the operating expenses of about $5 million and there are some one-off expenses,” he disclosed. 

When asked how long this arrangement would last, Dr. Clarke could not give a timeline but sought to assure that “it’s clearly not an indefinite situation”. 

The minister said the government is committed to ensuring the probe into the fraud at the company continues unimpeded.

“We just want to make sure that the investigation can proceed to the point where the FID (Financial Investigations Division) can bring the matter to court,” he insisted. Investigators are probing approximately US$20 million fraud at SSL.

International Artiste Buju Banton who never shy away from making his opinion knows, responded to the government decision to pay the bill of Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL).

While promoting his upcoming album Born for Greatness, Banton urge the Jamaican people to wake up from their slumber. Banton question legitimacy of the cost of an investigation amounting to fifteen million Jamaican dollars. He said Jamaica resources are being squandered, plundered and the wealth of Jamaica are being misappropriated. He went on to say that the people of Jamaica are suffering immensely and crime is on the rise and it is terrible.

Buju argued that we need great people to stand up and make their voices heard.

He said the Jamaican people have had enough of people enriching themselves from the great nation of Jamaica while the majority lives in abject squalor.

He said he is not here to rile people up but he is urging the masses to wake up