Last sitting of Ninth Parliament …Govt. approves additional $3.3B budget support
September 23, 2011 | By KNews | Filed Under News
Source - Kaieteur News
Government yesterday passed a $3.3B supplementary budget support request as the National Assembly sat for the last time under this administration.
Government, once again in the absence of the opposition, yesterday approved an additional $3.3B to complete a number key of projects.
It represented the third time since June that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)-led administration has turned to Parliament for supplementary provisions and the significance is that passage of the financial papers was made during the very last sitting of the National Assembly.
Parliament has to dissolve before the holding of national polls which is slated to be held before yearend.
Yesterday’s passage of the request will now mean that government has asked for an additional $12B since unveiling a $161B budget back in January.
Two weeks ago, the National Assembly, also without the opposition, approved a $2.64B “top up” to this year’s budget. It was in early June that government had also asked for an additional $6.2B to pay for two new Wartsila engines, among other critical projects.
The Parliament should have gone on its two-month recess from August 10, but the government passed a motion to extend the life of the Parliament and work through the recess.
The opposition maintained that the government had enough time to do its business and would not be attending Parliament during what was supposed to be the mandatory recess period.
On Thursday last week, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh tabled two Finance Papers in the House, seeking the additional $3.3 billion.
Of this amount, $1.2 billion is being sought for the payment of “additional electricity charges.” This represents a 50 per cent addition to the sum ($2.4 billion) that was already approved for in the national budget.
For the setting of a “multi-faith” religious television station, the government is seeking the House’s approval for $35 million. The project is slated to be executed under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
For the rehabilitation of roads in Leguan, $68 million is being sought under “Miscellaneous Roads” under the Ministry of Public Works and Communication. Under that very Ministry, the government is looking for another $150 million to facilitate the construction of a new access to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Before, $2.2 billion was already approved for this project.
A large portion of the monies being sought, falls under the Ministry of Agriculture. Under “Subsidies and Contributions to Local Organisations” an additional $350 million is to clear expenses for the Drainage and Irrigation Authority and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute.
Under the Conservancy Adaptation Project, the Ministry of Agriculture is also looking to clear $53 million for “additional inflows.”
The Ministry of Health is looking to clear spending in the amount of $993 million for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies for hospitals in Regions affected by malaria. These hospitals are Lethem, Mabaruma and Bartica. The drugs being procured are for six new health centres.
In addition, a further $343 million is being sought for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies under the Georgetown Public Hospital. The drugs and medical supplies are needed for the implementation of “new services and improvement of treatment regime for patients.”
Under the Ministry of Education, the government looks to clear $4.8 million for emergency repairs to schools in Region Four.
September 23, 2011 | By KNews | Filed Under News
Source - Kaieteur News
Government yesterday passed a $3.3B supplementary budget support request as the National Assembly sat for the last time under this administration.Government, once again in the absence of the opposition, yesterday approved an additional $3.3B to complete a number key of projects.
It represented the third time since June that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)-led administration has turned to Parliament for supplementary provisions and the significance is that passage of the financial papers was made during the very last sitting of the National Assembly.
Parliament has to dissolve before the holding of national polls which is slated to be held before yearend.
Yesterday’s passage of the request will now mean that government has asked for an additional $12B since unveiling a $161B budget back in January.
Two weeks ago, the National Assembly, also without the opposition, approved a $2.64B “top up” to this year’s budget. It was in early June that government had also asked for an additional $6.2B to pay for two new Wartsila engines, among other critical projects.
The Parliament should have gone on its two-month recess from August 10, but the government passed a motion to extend the life of the Parliament and work through the recess.
The opposition maintained that the government had enough time to do its business and would not be attending Parliament during what was supposed to be the mandatory recess period.
On Thursday last week, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh tabled two Finance Papers in the House, seeking the additional $3.3 billion.
Of this amount, $1.2 billion is being sought for the payment of “additional electricity charges.” This represents a 50 per cent addition to the sum ($2.4 billion) that was already approved for in the national budget.
For the setting of a “multi-faith” religious television station, the government is seeking the House’s approval for $35 million. The project is slated to be executed under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
For the rehabilitation of roads in Leguan, $68 million is being sought under “Miscellaneous Roads” under the Ministry of Public Works and Communication. Under that very Ministry, the government is looking for another $150 million to facilitate the construction of a new access to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Before, $2.2 billion was already approved for this project.
A large portion of the monies being sought, falls under the Ministry of Agriculture. Under “Subsidies and Contributions to Local Organisations” an additional $350 million is to clear expenses for the Drainage and Irrigation Authority and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute.
Under the Conservancy Adaptation Project, the Ministry of Agriculture is also looking to clear $53 million for “additional inflows.”
The Ministry of Health is looking to clear spending in the amount of $993 million for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies for hospitals in Regions affected by malaria. These hospitals are Lethem, Mabaruma and Bartica. The drugs being procured are for six new health centres.
In addition, a further $343 million is being sought for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies under the Georgetown Public Hospital. The drugs and medical supplies are needed for the implementation of “new services and improvement of treatment regime for patients.”
Under the Ministry of Education, the government looks to clear $4.8 million for emergency repairs to schools in Region Four.