Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh yesterday presented for approval two supplementary financial papers in the National Assembly amounting to some $8.2B.

He also requested that the sums contained in financial papers five and six be debated at the next sitting of the House on Monday.

The schedule of supplementary provision for financial paper five on capital and current estimates totalled some $1.4 B for the period December 8 to December 31, 2009.

Financial paper six, which is only for capital estimates, amounts to $6.8B for the period ending December 31, 2009.

In financial paper five, current estimates account for $888,192,352, while those for capital programmes reach $566,583,617. Both are advances from the Contingencies Fund.

According to the current estimates, $15M is being sought for the Public Service Ministry to meet expenditure in relation to chartered flights for scholarship students who departed for Cuba, $ 1.2M for the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to meet expenditure for discharged patients returning to the hinterland, and $190M for the Ministry of Agriculture to offset increased expenditure for maintenance of drainage and irrigation structures.

Two hundred million is being requested to provide financial support to the Transport and Harbour Department, $ 40M to meet additional expenses for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies for the Georgetown Public Hospital, and $433.9M to settle additional costs for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies for regional and clinical services.

Further, $3M is being sought for the Ministry of Home Affairs to meet additional expenses for the purchase of fuel and lubricants for the Guyana Fire Service.

Under the capital estimates, the House is being asked to approve $353.5 M for Office of the President for the installation of fibre optic cables and terminal equipment, and $5.5M for the purchase of a motor vehicle for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Twenty three million is being sought for the Ministry of Public Works and Communication, under the bridges rehabilitation 11-transport infrastructure project for the provision of counterpart contribution.

Some $184.5M is also being requested under the New Amsterdam/Moleson Creek road programme for the same purpose.

In financial paper six, an application is made for $1B for the Office of the Prime Minister to reconcile additional local expenses under the electrification programme, $4B for housing development and $1.6B for the Low Income Housing Programme Revolving Fund.

The paper is also requesting $18.1M for the Ministry of Finance under the Basic Needs Trust Fund for the provision of additional inflow, $33.5M to the Ministry of Education for the Basic Education Access Management Support Programme and another $144.3M for the Education for All Fast Track Initiative.