Air Namibia and the NBC ‘drain precious resources’

GOVERNMENT’S continuous bailouts of loss-making entities such as Air Namibia and the NBC are preventing it from allocating enough resources to more deserving projects, a Swapo MP told the National Council yesterday.

Arma Martin, the Regional Councillor for Oshakati West in the Oshana Region, said it was not a good thing for these entities to get allocations in the 2006-07 National Budget, while they continued to make losses. “It is very important that Government should revise this,” said Martin.In the Appropriation Bill, Air Namibia receives an allocation of N$153,4 million.He said managers in poorly managed parastatals had to be taken to task.”In a private company, when the business is not making profit, a manager is fired or demoted and a better manager is appointed,” said Martin.He said the development budget allocated to the regions was too small to lessen the gap between the rich and the poor.”What does this budget have for a child living in the Uuvudhiya rural area?” he asked.Uuvudhiya is a constituency in the Oshana Region.Martin said in terms of resource allocation, a child living in the Khomas Region and a few other regions continued to receive more than a child living in the Oshana Region, for instance.”How can we talk about equal opportunities when the field is not level,” he wanted to know.However Martin was delighted with the increases in the allocations of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.Martin said regional allocations should be done in accordance with the needs of the regions.”Resources allocated to regions should be seen to be fair and equitable,” he said.He was speaking during debate on the first reading of the Appropriation Bill in the National Council.”It is very important that Government should revise this,” said Martin.In the Appropriation Bill, Air Namibia receives an allocation of N$153,4 million.He said managers in poorly managed parastatals had to be taken to task.”In a private company, when the business is not making profit, a manager is fired or demoted and a better manager is appointed,” said Martin.He said the development budget allocated to the regions was too small to lessen the gap between the rich and the poor.”What does this budget have for a child living in the Uuvudhiya rural area?” he asked.Uuvudhiya is a constituency in the Oshana Region.Martin said in terms of resource allocation, a child living in the Khomas Region and a few other regions continued to receive more than a child living in the Oshana Region, for instance.”How can we talk about equal opportunities when the field is not level,” he wanted to know.However Martin was delighted with the increases in the allocations of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.Martin said regional allocations should be done in accordance with the needs of the regions.”Resources allocated to regions should be seen to be fair and equitable,” he said.He was speaking during debate on the first reading of the Appropriation Bill in the National Council.