– Finance Minister maintains it is a People’s Budget
The National Assembly last evening gave its approval of the 2011 $161.4B Budget, made public on January 17, and Finance Minister Ashni Singh wrapped up consideration of the estimates, maintaining that the budget is a people’s budget. Responding to questions about the allocations for the Ministry of Finance, Singh addressed queries made about the Poverty Programme, which has been allocated some $717M this year.
People’s National Congress Reform – One Guyana (PNCR-1G) Member of Parliament (MP) Basil Williams, asked what communities are targeted under the programme.
Singh stated that the Poverty Programme will support communities across the country and initiatives will be rolled out by ministries, the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), or Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs).
Williams pressed the minister for a specific list of communities expected to benefit and Singh made it clear that the beneficiaries will depend on requests made for funding.
He further explained that the community groups are in constant contact with NDCs, RDCs, Local Government and also the Parliamentary Constituent Representation – all of whom could advance the requests for funding.
“There is constant engagement,” Singh said.
The PNCR’s Judith David-Blair raised the query as to whether this fund would be able to support the construction of a library for the children of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni/ Mazaruni) – a need she had raised in the National Assembly before.
The minister pointed out that the Poverty Fund essentially services small initiatives and such an undertaking could be supported under another provision in the 2011 Budget.
The Loan Fund’s $450M allocation was also questioned and Singh maintained that this is to support University of Guyana students to access loans, so that they are able to pursue higher levels of education.
Shadow Finance Minister Volda Lawrence questioned the size of the Finance Ministry’s fleet of vehicles and Singh pointed out that they numbered 20, which support the ministry’s expanding services.
He disclosed that the oldest was 12-years-old and added that the ministry is looking at the feasibility of replacing old vehicles rather than maintaining them.
Lawrence questioned the increase in the allocation for travel expenses and Singh explained that this is due to expanded services, in particular the increase in monitoring activities for project implementation and evaluation.
The minister maintained that the allocations in the budget deliver services to the Guyanese people, promised to them by the current administration.
He contends that the physical infrastructure, the social sector, sports and culture, the justice sector, the environment, international affairs and diplomacy represent some of the “innumerable” examples of the progress and accomplishments in Guyana.