THE National Assembly yesterday approved certain items listed in financial papers Three, Four and Five; while the parliamentary Opposition, with their one seat majority voted against funds that were being sought by the

Home Affairs Ministry, Office of the President, Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Local Government Ministry for regional services for additional costs incurred to provide vital services.
The three papers have a total value of $3.3B and included funding for wages and salaries for contracted employees at the Office of the President for which $136M was requested.
A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU’s) point person on financial matters Carl Greenidge questioned how much of the amount that was being sought, was to cover costs that were disallowed earlier this year during consideration of the 2012 budget.
Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh confirmed that, with the exception of funds for wages and salaries for a few new recruits, this amount approximates the amount that was disallowed earlier this year.
There are 19 new recruits which include: two household service workers receiving a salary of $55,206; five drivers at salaries between $52,128 and $66,736 monthly; senior research assistants -$56,108 and $79,585; confidential secretary at $101,716; divisional head at $586,306, special assistant at $378,076, finance officer at $525,000, two media officers at $50,009 each, environment economist at $102,491; information coordinator at $525,000; IT officer at $90,300; and presidential cameraman at $68,040.
During the consideration of this item, the Opposition argued that government spent monies that were prohibited by the House, and that the courts (referring specifically to the ruling of the Chief Justice), cannot authorise a minister to spend public funds.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall explained that the Chief Justice in his ruling, identified provisions in the constitution, which are available to the Minister of Finance and avails him to access monies from the consolidated and contingency funds, if in his opinion, there has been an insufficient allocation made to agencies to carry out government services.
“All the Chief Justice did was point to provisions of the constitution to which the Minister has resorted and he exercised the powers conferred upon him under those provisions of the constitution,” the AG stated.
This explanation notwithstanding, the Opposition voted against these funds yet again as well as funds that were being sought to cover expenditure incurred in relation to consultancies and legal fees for the Climate Change Unit.
In paper four, which totalled $2,713,939, 675, the sum of $161.9M was approved for costs incurred in relation to the Commission of Inquiry into the events in Linden as well as the operations of the two technical teams under the agreement between Government and Region 10 administration.
Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill informed that of this sum $7M was spent on salaries for four staff for September to November and three staff for October to November.
APNU member, Basil Williams inquired about the fees that were paid to COI members. Minister Edghill explained that $68.5M was expended in this respect. Chairman of the Commission, Jamaican Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe was paid $16M; while members were paid as follows: Justice Claudette Singh- $13.2M, Senior Counsel K.D Knights- $14.2M, Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal- $12.7M, and former Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard- $12.2M.
After Opposition members kept questioning various expenditure under this item, Speaker Raphael Trotman reminded that the establishment of this Committee was seen as critical and required financing. He also reminded that the formation of COI was at the behest of Opposition members themselves.
Paper four also included $913M for the acquisition of fuel for the Linden Electricity Company and Kwakwani Utilities Inc., all of which was approved.
For the Foreign Affairs Ministry, $41.2M was approved for expenditure with regards to Guyana’s contribution to the Regional Crime and Security Agenda (IMPACS initiative) for 2012, $8.5M to cover additional costs in relation to sittings of the National Assembly, Committee meetings, and staff conferences, and $449M was approved for the Agriculture Ministry for drainage and irrigation works and fuel and maintenance of equipment.
A number of provisions sought by the Public Works and Human Services Ministries were approved; however, only one of the items under the Home Affairs Ministry received the approval of the Opposition. This was for a provision of $293M for the Citizens’ Security Programme.
The Opposition also voted against funds for the Guyana Prison Service, Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force. (GINA)