Gov’t seeks US$15M more for Parliament

The government has tabled financial papers seeking the National Assembly’s approval of the release of $3B in contingency funds to cover fuel costs for Linden, expenses incurred by the Linden Commission of Inquiry (COI) and related committees and the salaries of Office of the President (OP) contract workers.

This was contained in three financial papers no.s 3, 4 and 5, tabled yesterday in the National Assembly. The financial papers, which are for $3,311,549,496 in supplementary expenditure, will be debated on Thursday.

Financial Paper No. 4 seeks approval for $1,174,269,023, which is described as expenditure associated with the increase in acquisition costs of fuel for the Linden Electricity Company Inc and Kwakwani Utilities Inc. ($913, 269, 023) along with expanded operations of Guyana Revenue Authority ($261 million).

With Financial Paper No. 4, the government is also seeking the approval for $161,988,349, representing the expenditure incurred in relation to the COI and the operations of the two technical teams established under the agreement signed by the Government of Guyana/Region Ten delegation.

The COI was established following the July 18 protestor shooting in Linden that claimed three lives and saw injuries to around 20 persons. The work of the COI, initially expected to be a month-long endeavour, began in September and is expected to conclude next month. Some $80M had initially been budgeted for the COI, according to Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon.

In addition, $449 million is sought for expenditure related to Guyana’s contribution to the Regional Crime and Security Agenda for 2012 and $105,320, 000 for expenditure incurred in relation to increased patrols in interior locations and an increase in fuel prices.

Also, $58, 665, 600 is being sought to cover expenditure incurred in relation to activities in Linden and increased travelling by ranks to conduct investigations especially in interior locations.

Financial Paper No. 3 seeks to cover $136, 003,029 for OP contract and an additional $68, 606, 792 for other expenses not listed. The allocations for OP contract workers were among the items cut from the National Budget by the combined opposition earlier in the year.

Under Financial Paper No. 5, government is seeking approval for $100 million for bridges rehabilitation under the Ministry of Public Works and $293 million for Citizen Security under the Ministry of Home Affairs.