House approves $1.4B supplementary provision

The National Assembly today approved supplementary funding to the tune to of $1,474,960,454 to meet additional expenses for various agencies that were not anticipated in the 2013 national budget. Financial Paper 4 totalled $1, 062, 179, 646, while Paper 5 amounted to $412, 780, 808.

Paper 4

The Ministry of Finance, sought $263M to meet the shortfall incurred in providing an additional subsidy to the Linden Electricity Company Inc., (LECI), as well as an additional subsidy to the Kwakwani Utilities Inc.

APNU MP, Carl Greenidge argued why this expenditure was unforeseen and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh explained that while an initial subsidy was provided for it in the national budget, it is impossible to anticipate the actual level of electricity consumption. The national budget is only an estimate.

Meanwhile, $69.3M was approved for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to provide financial assistance to several countries that suffered severely as a result of natural disasters. These include: $10.35M to the Philippines which was severely hit by typhoon ‘Haiyan’, $2M for Somalia, $20.7M to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, $20.7M to St. Lucia, and $15.5M for Dominica.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett explained that while the relief funds for Somalia and the Philippines will be paid through the United Nations, the Caribbean countries will received theirs directly to bank accounts that they each have since opened.

For the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, the sum of 24.2M was approved. The sum of $15M was approved for the massive Georgetown clean-up campaign (including the clearing of drains and removal of solid waste etc) as well as an additional $9.2M to meet employment costs for the last quarter of 2013 at the cash-strapped Linden Municipality.

Funds to the tune of $50M was approved for the Public Service Ministry to meet additional expenditure incurred in increased airfare for Guyanese students returning from Cuba; while $160M was cleared for the Agriculture Ministry for the maintenance of drainage and irrigation infrastructure in various communities, cleaning of drains in Region 10, and maintenance of equipment and machinery.

For the Public Works Ministry, a total of $121.89M was approved, while $19.2M was approved for the Education Ministry to meet the shortfall in the provision of security services for schools for 2013.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand explained to the Opposition Chief Whip, Amna Ally the new minimum wage and order that took effect from July 1, led to an increase that was not catered for in the national budget. An additional $13.5M was also approved for the Ministry to aid in the cleanup and extermination exercise of a number of City schools as a result of the recent floods.

Subsequently, $15M was approved for the Home Affairs Ministry to cover expenses for the storage, handling and removal of skeletal remains of the Lindo Creek victims for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

For the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), $36M was approved for the repairs and maintenance of several vehicles, especially those that are frequently deployed to the interior, $51M for the hiring of aircraft and boats to transport troops and goods and other supplies to various locations. The Force had also rented heavy-duty equipment to off load containers and transport equipment to locations.

Lastly, $6.57M was approved for the Parliament Office for the construction and extension of washroom facilities to better accommodate MPs, the media and members of the public.

Paper 5

In Paper 5, supplementary provision on the capital estimates totalling $412, 780, 808 targeted the Ministries of Agriculture, Housing and Water and Legal Affairs.

Under the Ministry of Agriculture, Crops and Livestock and Support Services, a total of $257,519,044 was approved with the largest portion going towards works in Canal No. 2. The funds targeted consultancy services for Agriculture, Health and Food Safety Services; Construction of a pump station at Patentia, the cleaning of culverts and fabrication and installation of control gates, construction of culverts and revetment and rehabilitation of channels in Canal No. 2.

Under the Ministry of Housing’s Second Low Income Settlement Programme, $97,666,194 was approved with the largest amount targeting the upgrading of roads in Parfaite Harmonie and Amelia’s Ward. Other funds targeted the construction of core homes in Ankerville, Ordnance, Fortlands and Recht-Door Zee. Funds were also approved for the supply of materials and labour for the construction of houses under the hinterland pilot component. This was done in Westminster, Onderneeming, Annai, Apoteri, Massara, Whitewater, Manawarin, Oronoque and Bath.

The Legal Affairs Sector Justice Improvement Programme secured approval for $57,595,570 with the largest amount covering the purchase and installation of Voice Recording equipment and furniture for three courts. These are the Court of Appeal, the Commercial Court and the Chief Justice Court.

Funds were also approved for the purchase of furniture and equipment for Civil and Criminal committees and Supreme Court Judges, Director of Public Prosecution Chambers in Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo; purchase of hardware for databases at the DPP Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs. Funds also covered the establishment of a Law Revision Department; quality control for the Revised Laws of Guyana and the Launching of Law Reports; rehabilitation works of two additional courtrooms, driveway and corridors; the purchase of a transformer for the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and administrative expenses.

The main questions from the Opposition benches on all three supplementary provisions were based on why the sums were not included in the 2013 estimates, and why they could not have been held and included in the 2014 estimates. However the explanations made by the relevant ministers were accepted and the sums were approved.