The National Assembly Thursday approved a $2.4B Supplementary Appropriation (No. 1 for 2010) Bill 2010, after the House spent hours debating transparency and accountability issues. The monies are to meet ministries expenditure, for the year ending December 31, 2010, in several sectors, including Agriculture, Health, Education, Public Works, Amerindian Affairs, Culture, Youth and Sports and Housing.
Two financial papers outlined the supplemental appropriations, the first totaling some $155,278,916 to facilitate one project categorized under current estimates and 12 under capital estimates; and the second totalling $2,249,666,161 to cover one project under current estimates and 10 under capital estimates.
Subject ministers who justified the request for supplemental provisions maintained that transparency is not an issue in the process and that the expenditures being financed are urgent, unavoidable and unforeseen.
People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Shadow Finance Minister, Mr. Winston Murray, while he made it clear that he has no objections to the projects themselves, repeated his call for transparency in the work to be undertaken.
His primary argument was that the proper project profiles should have been brought to the National Assembly and insisted that this would have assisted in enhancing transparency.
According to Murray, project profiles would adequately identity and define the works being financed.
However, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said there is “ultra transparency” in the entire process and further stated that the current administration is exceeding the legal requirements that are required for accessing the monies.
Murray advanced his contentions when he questioned the allocation of $13.3M for ‘land utilization expenditure’ and noted that the agency to lead the effort, the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), should not be given that role, rather it should be the Crops and Livestock Division.
The Agriculture Minister explained that the monies will facilitate the clearing of backlands along the East Coast of Demerara and have that land put to productive use.
He noted that GMC, by cabinet mandate, leads the ‘Grow More Food Campaign’ and, in this context, has been identified to coordinate the effort which will see small farmers being part of the campaign.
Another appropriation that caused a stir was the allocation of $17.3M to provide for additional works for the Intelligence Service Unit (ISU) at Castellani House.
Murray pointed out that no provisions were made for the ISU in the Budget and again called for such works to be brought under a project title.
Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jennifer Webster, stated that the funds were requested after “unforeseen circumstances” called for the completion of the project.
Also scrutinized was a $7.4M allocation for the completion of the Amerindian Dormitory at Liliendaal, whose initial cost was some $112M.
The opposition argued that the initial project profile was misleading, but Amerindian Affairs Minister maintained that this was not so.
She said the additional monies will be used to develop electricity and water infrastructure from the main road to the completed dormitory.
The opposition queried too an allocation of $184M to that will go towards works at the National Stadium, at Providence.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, explained to the House that the funds will facilitate maintenance work and not fund additional works, as was the assumption of the Opposition.
Anthony said $80M will be used to sandblast steel structures at the stadium and have them painted with a specific paint to guard against rust.
Murray had misunderstood this move to mean reinforcements of the steel structures, but this was corrected by the Minister Anthony.
The Culture, Youth and Sport Minister said the stands will also be washed and painted and paving will be done at the front of the Stadium.
He said maintenance was necessary and also cleared the misconception that the elevator at the Stadium was not operational.
The critique of Supplementary Appropriation has in the past and continues to be a feature in the National Assembly, but the House’s approval indicates its current administration has met the requisite criteria in bringing its request for additional funds to the House.