CONSIDERATION of the 2013 budgeted allocations for the administrative regions wrapped up late last evening with the House giving the nod to the 2013 estimates and expenditures for Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice).

Approved was the sum of $2.056B for the bauxite region, $153.332M of which covers Regional Administration and Finance, $247.424M Public Works projects, and $1.338B Education Delivery. The remaining sum of $316.788M supports the delivery of Regional Health Services.
In the 2013 budget as well, the mining town has been allocated a $2.9B subsidy towards electricity.
Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker, answered the Opposition Members of Parliament questions regarding the specific allocations under these four programmes.
At one point, he was asked by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MP Vanessa Kissoon, which budgeted line item under the education sector makes provision for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the student hostel at Linden.
Minister Whittaker explained that provision for this undertaking is provided for under two line items. Under the maintenance of other infrastructure, $600,000 has been provided, and under equipment maintenance, a provision of $800,000. This caters for both the male and female dormitories.
Under the education sector, $41.627M will be expended on the following projects: the completion of Kwakwani Secondary school; the construction of a nursery school at Aroaima; the construction of a primary school at Ituni; the extension of the Mackenzie High School, and the extension of the teachers’ quarters at Kwakwani. The latter will cater for two teachers, each with a family of four.
Covered also under the 2013 allocation to the region’s education sector is the provision of $2.4M for swings for the primary schools, $10M to purchase school furniture and equipment, and $6.7M to provide solar energy systems for riverine schools.
Minister Whittaker explained that the furniture and equipment are for the schools in the central areas, and that provision in this regard for schools in the riverine communities were met in 2012.
The regional administration’s allocation caters for, among others, the construction of an agriculture main office at Wismar and the rehabilitation of the Amerindian Hostel at Wismar at the cost of $21.1M.
For 2013, the Region 10 residents will also benefit from the construction of a bridge and revetment at Rockstone that will be funded at the cost of $18M, under the public works allocation.
Additionally, under Public Works, the roads at Kwakwani and Wisroc will be completed at the cost $48.627M, an additional $31.374 will cover the  construction and upgrading of roads at Wisroc, Upper Speightland, Silvertown and Dacama Circle, and $17.5M will support the construction of revetment and erosion control structure at Wisroc, Phase 111.
Towards the delivery of health care services in the region, $24M will go towards the completion of the Kwakwani Hospital and the medex quarters at Hururu, and the construction of the Vivienne Parris Health Centre.
Also provided for is the construction and extension of the dentistry department of the Upper Demerara Hospital, the laboratory, and driveway to the morgue, and for electrical works, also at the same hospital.
The sum of $14.2M will fund the purchase of boats, outboards engines and ambulance, and $13M for the purchase of autoclaves, haemoglobin meters, suction machines, aliquot mixers, rotators, hematology analyser, reflotron, centrifuges, chairs, desks, cabinets, beds, stoves, and refrigerators.
For 2013, the National Assembly approved $1.6B for Region 1, $2.428B for Region 2, $3.047B for Region 3, $3.209B for Region 4, $1.819B for Region 5, $4.168B for Region 6, $1.519B for Region 7, $886.303M for Region 8, $1.318B for Region 9, and $2.056B for Region 10.