Considerations of the estimates of expenditure for 2010 concluded on Friday, with the National Assembly approving the budget.
Prior to the conclusion, People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member Basil Williams sought explanation from Minister of Public Service Dr. Jennifer Westford relating to the categories and number of contracted workers employed by her Ministry.
Minister Westford pointed out that her Ministry has employed a Permanent Secretary, telephonist, two office assistants, two accounts clerk II, three drivers, an advisor on training, two student affairs officers (1), two student affairs officers (II), two senior personnel officers, two principal personnel officers, two documentation officers, two system development analysts and a confidential secretary.
Williams asked the Minister to explain the categories of scholarships which will benefit from the Ministry’s budgetary allocation of $212M.
Minister Westford noted that the Ministry has 129 continuing students who are furthering their studies at the University of Guyana, at universities in China, India, Japan, the United States, at the Guyana School of Agriculture, and the Carnegie School of Home Economics.
She pointed out that the Ministry is contemplating offering an additional 117 scholarships.
Dr. Westford said individuals are pursing studies in the areas of Agriculture, Biology, Agricultural Science, International Relations, Agronomy, and Information Technology at the University of Guyana. In India, most students are pursuing studies in Information Technology, while in Japan and China some persons are studying medicine and Information Technology. (GINA)