Rohee’s $17.5B budget passed without cuts
…as AFC withdraws motion
The estimates for the Ministry of Home Affairs were passed without cuts last evening after the seven-seat Alliance for Change (AFC) withdrew its proposal to slash the budget for the Citizen’s Security programme and other critical interventions.
The AFC had proposed to cut $500 million from the Citizen Security Programme, and a further $23 million from other programmes, including so called Justice Houses at which citizens can have NIS and passport issues sorted out.
The proposed cuts also would have covered funding for a holding house for juvenile delinquents.
AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan announced that the AFC would not proceed with its cut, but the largest coalition bloc APNU went ahead. However, APNU’s 26 seats in the 65-member House were not enough to stop Rohee’s budget.
The implementation of the three strategic plans will allow for more effective prioritisation in the use of the total sum of $17.5 billion allocated to the sector. Focus will be placed on enhancing physical infrastructure, and providing air, land and water transport and equipment for the sector to carry out its mandate effectively.
With regards to the fight against drugs and piracy, the maritime sector will benefit from greater physical presence of maritime forces with the operationalising of floating bases in Regions Two and Six.
In support of further advancing the capabilities of the safety and security personnel, ranks of the police from the level of constable to assistant commissioner will benefit from mandatory overseas training while fire service personnel will benefit from the new training school.
Furthermore, the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory will be completed and is expected to become operational in the latter part of the year. This new state-of-the-art laboratory will make a significant impact by providing sound scientific basis for investigations and expert testimony to support the adjudication of cases, and will thus raise the quality of analysis that can be carried out in Guyana to international standards