MINISTER of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, during the last sitting of the National Assembly on Thursday, tabled Financial Papers Three and Four totalling $2,104,478,083 and $542,948,950 respectively.
Paper Three is seeking supplementary provisions by the Finance Ministry for the expenditure associated with the increase in acquisition cost of fuel for LINMINE Community Power and Kwakwani Utilities Inc as well as costs incurred to purchase supplies to aid flood victims for a period of two months in Regions Six, Nine and Ten.
Provisions are also sought for financial assistance for famine victims in Eastern Africa, Georgetown Mayor and City Council, Guyana Sugar Corporation (for severance pay), African Cultural Development Association (to finance activities in observance of Year of Peoples of African Descent), preparation and production of public information material for the chronic non-communicable diseases, and for contributions towards road safety activities.
In addition, supplementary sums are also sought for the procurement of vehicles and other equipment for the Office of the President and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Local Government Ministry for infrastructural works, Amerindian Affairs for development programmes, Works Ministry for rehabilitation of roads and drainage structures, Education Ministry for construction and rehabilitation of computer labs and furniture, and provision of tools and equipment for the security sector.
In Paper Four, the Works Ministry is seeking provisions to cover costs incurred for the modification of the Supenaam and Parika Stellings to accommodate the roll on/off ferries, as well as provisions to acquire replacement spares for vessels.
A provision is also being sought by the Education Ministry for the establishment of a housing revolving fund pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU).