THE estimates of expenditure for the Ministry of Housing and Water were last evening passed in the National Assembly.
Alliance for Change (AFC) member, Khemraj Ramjattan, questioned Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali about the portfolios and salaries for the top five contracted workers under the Ministry’s current expenditure and the answers were readily provided. Minister Ali explained that the top five contracted workers in his ministry included the permanent secretary, who receives a salary of $509,082 and an allowance of $14,000, two civil engineers and two mechanical engineers, whose salaries are approximately $108,000 each plus an allowance of $9,000.
There was an increase in the sums budgeted for security services and Minister Ali explained that a public procurement process was carried which attracted three private security firms; these include: RK Security, Strategic Security Services and Federal Management Systems Inc.; and out of the three bidders, RK. Security was awarded the
contract since it placed the lowest offer to the tender.
When asked what accounted for the increase in the allocation for security services this year, the minister said that services were provided by the Special Constabulary in 2011; however, this body had indicated that it does not have sufficient manpower to continue providing such services; and as such, the sums budgeted for this year
will cater for all the required services.
These include security services for the ministry’s main and project offices and the residence of the minister and the permanent secretary.
Notwithstanding the minister’s explanation, the AFC indicated that it was not satisfied and called for a vote by division. However, members of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) abstained from voting, resulting in the passage of the item.
Several questions were also posed to the minister with regard to the capital estimates, all of which were answered in their entirety by Minister Ali.
This year, the Housing and Water Ministry is working to have a further 6,500 house lots and 4,000 land titles distributed and a vast infrastructural development programme will be embarked on to improve roads, drains and structures in existing schemes.
Additionally, 200 core houses will be made available to under-privileged families, while 200 teachers, nurses and policemen under the professional grouping will have access to loans for building homes.
The turnkey housing initiative, which seeks to minimise the time taken between allocation, loan application and construction by immediately providing two- bedroom houses to an additional 80 families, will be realized by year-end.
Home improvement subsidies to vulnerable groups benefiting 190 coastland and 100 Amerindian families will also be made.
Improved roads, drains and structures in existing schemes such as Kokerite Hill, Uitvlugt, Herstelling, Bartica and Wisroc will be undertaken under the infrastructure development programme.
With regard to the water sector, $2B has been allocated to improve the quality of water supply, of which $900M is budgeted for the installation of approximately 20 kilometres of transmission and distribution mains, the upgrading of water treatment plant systems and the completion of four boreholes benefiting approximately 233,900 residents. (GINA)