MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development Norman Whittaker withstood grilling by Opposition parliamentarians to successfully pilot the financial allocations for Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) through the National Assembly Monday evening. The sum of $944.77M was split under current expenditure with an allocation of $778.828, and the sum of $165.949M for capital works in the region.The sum of $81.673M was allocated under Regional Administration and Finance,  aimed at undertaking the necessary consultation with the subject ministries, Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and Amerindian Village Councils (AVCs), regarding the implementation of any policy or development plan that may be determined by those agencies.
It will also give maximum support to those programmes, promote efficient and optimal use of resources and, at the same time, ensure that all relevant guidelines are observed to achieve an acceptable level of accountability.
Questions under this sector focused on repairs and allocation of vehicles and specifically targeted the vehicle assigned to the Regional Executive Officer of the region. The response given by the minister was deemed satisfactory and was accepted. Questions also focused on buildings slated for rehabilitation, with Minister Whittaker pointing out that the Kato and Mahdia guest houses were listed for works to be done, among others.
The Public Works allocation of $150.631M aims at ensuring the continued enhancement and sustainability of the physical infrastructure and providing electricity and water to facilitate the continued development of communities in the region.
Questions posed by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Desmond Trotman, were phrased as requests for written documentation on road works and bridges slated for construction and rehabilitation in the region. This, the minister promised to provide, while informing that major road works and bridges would be done by the RDC. He also pointed to works slated under Drainage and Irrigation, sea and river defences, the rehabilitation of road lights and other projects.
Alliance For Change (AFC) MP, Moses Nagamootoo, questioned works on the Mahdia interior roads which the minister informed him would be done by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment.
The sum of $518.943M allocated for education delivery will ensure equal access to quality education for all children and young people of the region.  Under this allocation, questions were posed regarding the rehabilitation and maintenance of buildings. AFC MP, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, who asked the question, was informed that education and administrative buildings in Mahdia were slated for works.
APNU MP, Annette Ferguson, who questioned the amount slated for fuel and lubricants, was told that the sum was increased to cater for an extra 12 hours of power supply for Mahdia and for the IT programme for the Paramakatoi Secondary School.
Garrido-Lowe was informed that the supply of school furniture would target the 27 primary schools across the region.
An allocation of $193.630M targets the improvement of physical, social and mental health status of the residents of the region.
The budgetary allocation for the region was then approved without adjustment.

(GINA)