Region Two budgetary allocations approved by committee of supply

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, December 13, 2017

As the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly continues to examine 2018 budgetary estimates for the public sector. $4.7B was approved for Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), after Opposition members questioned Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan on specific allocations for both current and capital expenditure for the region.

Provisions which came under scrutiny, by the opposition, include the hiring of staff, tendering of contracts for security and mechanical services, for the refurbishment of education facilities in the region and the transference of funds from one programme to another.

Member of Parliament Colin Croal queried the increased distribution for security services under the administrative and financial programme. Minister Bulkan explained that the increase caters for the hiring of a new security firm.

He further detailed that a number of facilities within the region including the Regional Executive Officer’s quarters will have this service present. Meanwhile, there had also been a notable increase in the same service for the education sector.

The Minister outlined several schools will now have full-time security services. He also detailed that the newly contracted security firm offers an increased hourly rate of $350 with more security guards being deployed. This service will be catered for in the allocation.

The Communities Minister added emphasised that there is an increased need for security of regional facilities, throughout the region, hence the move in 2018 to have it present where it is needed.

There were also concerns about fuel being sourced for the support of generators which will provide standby electricity services to healthcare facilities. These were mainly the Oscar Joseph and Suddie Hospitals.

For Capital expenditure, a truck will be purchased by the region to uplift and transport drugs and medical supplies. A total of $40M will be expended for Drainage and Irrigation construction and rehabilitation throughout the region.

Other details for questions asked by members of the Opposition have been promised to be laid over in the National Assembly within 48 hours after the deliberations. As a result, allocations for all five programmes were duly approved.

The allocations for both current and capital expenditure for the year 2018 are as follows:

Regional administration and Finance – $ 255, 366,000

Agriculture – $ 395,991,000

Public Infrastructure – $ 197,420,000

Education delivery – $ 2,155,323,000

Health Services – $ 1,003,210,000

With this allocation, the Region Two Democratic Council will ensure that appropriate and adequate financial management systems exist for the improvement of the physical, social and economic well being of residents by providing quality services for the orderly development of the region as indicated in national policies.

 

By: Delicia Haynes

 

For more photos, click on the link to the DPI’s Flickr Page

https://www.flickr.com/photos/142936155@N03/