THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) has engaged the Ministry of Finance on preparations for its budget, which will be read as part of the national budget 2017 in December.Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson told members of the media on Thursday that the Ministry defended its submissions, and according to him the entity is competing with several other ministries to receive funding for projects in the 2017 Fiscal year, including in Hinterland areas.

The Ministry will make a final submission to the Ministry of Finance today. There are some marque projects such as the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project which has to be completed in 2017.

Patterson said the $4B allocated in 2016 for the CJIA project has been expended, and it is expected to be finished by December 2017.

The contractor, he said is pushing to meet the project deadline, and the Ministry may approach Parliament for with a supplementary budget to complete the project.

Works at the CJIA is being undertaken by the Chinese firm, China Habour Engineering Company (CHEC) and includes the construction of a roundabout at the entrance to the airport.