– as allocations to Ministry of Local Gov’t & Regional Development approved
THE $1B allocation for the ‘Clean Up My Community’ initiative proposed by Government, under the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, came under scrutiny yesterday as the Parliamentary Committee of Supply continued its review of Budget 2014.And Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman, given the line of questioning, pointed out to the subject Minister, Norman Whittaker, that this issue will clearly continue to be a source of query as it relates to how the monies are spent, where it is spent and the respect for the constitutionally protected rights of regional agencies.
The latter was in reference to the Georgetown City Council, which is slated to be the recipient of $500m of the $1B allocation.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP), Ronald Bulkan, questioned the involvement of the Georgetown City Council in decision making and the identification of activities to be undertaken under the campaign.
Whittaker explained that the City Council, as well as the community, the private sector and other stakeholders will be involved in the project planning and implementation.
Bulkan argued in favour of the City Council, pointing out it is being “reduced to a stakeholder” when its functions are constitutionally prescribed and protected.
But Whittaker said his Ministry is responsible for the disbursement of the $1B and the management of the ‘Clean Up My Community’ initiative and no monies will be transferred to the City Council or regional authorities to undertake the works.
He added that the disbursement of monies will be based on a needs assessment and will include works to advance a regional solid waste programme that was started in 2013.
“We are looking at what is, what needs to be done and what resources are needed, and monitoring this,” the Minister said.
APNU MP, Desmond Trotman, called for a breakdown of what is to be done and the estimated costs of each area of work, which Whittaker committed to.
His colleague, Annette Ferguson, questioned the duplication of spending on similar projects by different Ministries.
Whittaker pointed out that his Ministry and the Ministries of Public Works, Agriculture, Tourism, Natural Resources and Environment are in collaboration over the undertakings for which the $1B is provided.
Fergusson also called for the Parliamentarians to be involved as stakeholders on the work to be done.
Whittaker acknowledged her suggestion and added that the Guyanese people are the most important stakeholder because, more than getting the work done, focus has to also be placed on maintaining the undertakings invested in.
Government, through the $1B initiative, is expected to spearhead an effort that will result in the capital city, all other towns, and rural villages implementing a ‘Clean Up My Community’ action plan that will address the collection and removal of garbage as well as the reporting of residents who irresponsibly dispose of their garbage. Citizens, businesses and institutions will be tasked with ensuring that their garbage is properly discarded in appropriate receptacles. Efforts will be made to enlist the support of the private sector and other institutions to assume greater involvement in helping to maintain the environment in which they operate.
The Parliamentary Committee of Supply approved the $1B allocation as well as the other capital and current expenditures under the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, yesterday. The ministry was allocated $2.7B in 2014.
By Vanessa Narine