House approves $6.6M for new restrooms for Public Buildings : –APNU questions already approved funding

THE Public Buildings will soon boast additional washrooms as a result of a $6.6M capital funding approved at the last sitting of the National Assembly, but not without the usual objection by APNU Shadow Finance Minister, Mr Carl Greenidge.

Prime Minister, Mr Samuel Hinds, whose office has oversight responsibility for the Public Buildings, explained to the House that the project was being undertaken as a result of complaints by Parliamentarians that the current facilities are insufficient.
“This was not planned, but it was known that it would have been good for us to improve the washroom facilities for ourselves, also for members of the media and the public,” the Prime Minister explained.
The Prime Minister further explained that $4.47M of the fund for the washrooms was derived from a surplus that was originally allocated to fix the Public Building’s ceiling.
Despite this explanation, Mr. Greenidge continued to question the decision by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, to approve the funds, asking whether the Parliament Office had requested the rehabilitation of this facility prior to November 2013.
In response, the Prime Minister explained that it was a last-minute decision, based on the funds in hand for repairing the building’s ceiling, and from persons who had indicated that the current facilities were not sufficient.
Deputy Speaker, Ms Bibi Shadick also reminded Mr. Greenidge that the National Assembly had previously indicated its intent to provide similar facilities for the media and public.
The Prime Minister explained that the decision to add more washrooms to the Public Buildings was based on the availability of funding, and the need for the additional facilities.
“Every year when we do budget, and even in our own homes, we have long lists of things we would like to do,” he said, adding:
“We have so much money and so much things we would like to do and we have to do what fits best.”
In response to Mr. Greenidge’s question, the Prime Minister noted that the request for funding was not done prior to November 2013.

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