The Bill, piloted by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh was considered clause by clause in committee and passed with no objection.

Notably, members of the Opposition boycotted the entire sitting of the House and were busy demonstrating in front of the Public Buildings at the time Dr. Singh was presenting the Bill.

Financial Paper One and Two of the estimates laid before the House by Singh totalled $247.4M and $2.5B respectively.

Financial Paper One covered current and capital estimates for the period July 16, 2009, to December 31, 2009, while Financial Paper Two takes care of capital estimates for the period ending December 31, 2009.

Under Financial Paper One, current estimates amounted to $153.5M and capital estimates $93.9M.

The Ministries of Amerindian Affairs, Health and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) are the beneficiaries of the current estimates of Financial Paper One.

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs received some $8.5M.

According to the estimates, $48,000 has been allocated for print and non-print materials, $484,000 for fuel and lubricants, $2.5M for rental of buildings, $40,000 for vehicle spares and service, $546,000 for other transport, travel and postage,

$350,000 for electricity charges, $350,000 for training, including scholarships, and $4.2M for others.

Thirty million dollars was allotted to the Ministry of Health for the refurbishing of offices, electrical installation, and plumbing to existing buildings to house the staff of the building that was destroyed by fire.

One hundred and fifteen million dollars was assigned to the GDF for joint operations expenditure.

Still with Financial Paper One, in the capital estimates, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Amerindian Affairs and Education are slated to benefit.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was given some $4M to purchase office equipment and furniture for its embassy in Havana, Cuba, while the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs received $79.3M for the National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme and $600,000 for the purchase of office equipment and furniture.

Some $10M was allocated to the Ministry of Education to rehabilitate the roof of the teaching and sanitary blocks of President’s College.

In Financial Paper Two, $473M was given to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) under the Ministry of Finance.

The Ministry of Agriculture received $125M for hydrometeorology, while the Ministry of Public Works and Communication obtained $15.4M to rehabilitate Colgrain House, $300M for the New Amsterdam/Moleson Creek roads, $175M to rehabilitate the Mahaicony and De Hoop branch roads, and $250M for sea defence works.

Some $573M was assigned to the Ministry of Education’s Basic Education Access Management Support (BEAMS) programme, and $400M to the Ministry of Housing and Water, Low Income Housing Programme Revolving Fund.

And the Ministry of Health received $164.8M for HIV/AIDS initiatives and a further $56.8M for the Nutrition Programme.