FINANCIAL papers seven and eight totalling $2,240,901,071 and $3,471,047,823 respectively, seeking approval for expenditure met from the Contingencies Fund late last year were tabled by Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh in the National Assembly last Friday. They will be considered at Thursday’s scheduled sitting of the National Assembly. Some of the supplementary provisions being sought in the first paper are to meet expenses associated with the conferment of national awards and other events hosted by the State, additional subsidy to the Lethem Power Company, financial assistance to El Salvador in wake of tropical depression, pending issues in hinterland communities, hosting of activities relating to Amerindian Heritage Month 2011, and maintenance of drainage and irrigation structures and purchase of fuel and lubricants for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).
With regards to the Home Affairs Ministry, funds are being sought to meet the expenditure for dietary items for inmates for the Juvenile Holding Centre in Sophia and cost incurred by the joint services and the General Registrar’s Office (GRO) during the 2011 General and Regional Elections.
Additionally, provisions are being sought to meet expenditure incurred to purchase dietary supplies for dormitories at Bartica and Waramadong Secondary Schools for November and December 2011.
With regards to infrastructure, provisions are being sought by the Public Works Ministry to meet expenses for security equipment, mobilisation payment, acquisition of an 800KVA generator at the Mabaruma Power Station and other operational expenditure.
The second paper is seeking provisions by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat for the Electrification Programme and the Public Works Ministry for the improvement of the East Bank Demerara highway, and the acquisition of ferry vessels.
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry is seeking funds to meet expenditure associated with the Education for All Fast Track Initiative-EFA-FTI.
In keeping with Government’s commitment to prudent financial management, all of the expenditure incurred was in pursuit of important national development objectives.