Two weeks of debate on the 2010 National Budget and consideration of estimates in the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly concluded last evening when the House passed the Appropriation Bill 2010, giving the go-ahead for public spending this year.
The bill covers a gross sum of $125,568,573,000 which will be expended on Guyana for the fiscal year 2010 ending December 31, 2010 in accordance with article 218 of the Constitution and Section 17 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003.
Last evening’s final session on consideration of the 2010 estimates of expenditure was mixed with some drama which included a walkout from the chambers of the National Assembly by the opposition PNCR-1G MPs as Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy prepared to answer questions on proposed spending by the Health Ministry this year. As such consideration of estimates under the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and the Ministry of Health lasted a mere 10 minutes. The Health Minister was also given a cold shoulder by the opposition during the budget debate last week. The opposition MPs have argued that Ramsammy has many questions to answer in relation to what he knew about the spy equipment purchased for convicted drug lord Roger Khan. Ramsammy has denied having anything to do with this.
The Opposition MPs re-entered the Parliamentary chambers as Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and his team prepared to answer queries regarding current and capital expenditure. PNCR-1G MP and Shadow Minister of Finance Winston Murray raised several queries including whether the authorities will heed recommendations made by the Auditor General to have the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) operate under the umbrella of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Murray appeared dissatisfied with the Finance Minister’s answer to his query in which the Minister stated that the matter was under consideration. According to Murray, the Finance Minister’s answer was “the same as last year”, and he further questioned of Singh whether he foresees a finalization of the issue. Singh stated that he could not pronounce on such finalization.
In what Murray termed a “not necessarily” moment, the Finance Minister was questioned on provisions made in the budget of some $6.1B for intended Low Carbon Development (LCD) programmes. According to the project profile, the allocated sum is intended to cover several projects under the LCD programme, including the construction of access roads to Amaila Falls and related infrastructural work under phase 1 of the hydropower project.
Murray questioned whether the projects will be undertaken under the Guyana/Norway forest protection pact to which the Finance Minister answered briefly, “not necessarily”.
Murray further questioned if the sum is not realized under the agreement, whether the monies will be added to the budget or if existing projects will be cut. The Finance Minister stated that he did not wish to speculate on any eventualities stating that the 2010 budget has made provisions for the completion of all projects.
Murray also quizzed the Finance Minister on the State Planning Secretariat (SPS), stating that the body’s financial records had not been audited between the years 1992-2007. He also questioned when the body would be dissolved, adding that this was based on recommendations made by the Auditor General.
The Finance Minister stated that all expenditure under the Ministry of Finance is subject to being audited by the Ministry. A dissatisfied Murray further questioned of the Finance Minister whether he accepts that based on the recommendation of the Auditor General that the SPS be dissolved. He also asked of the Minister how soon will financial statements on expenditure by the SPS between 1992-2007 be submitted to the Audit Office. The Finance Minister repeated the answer he gave previously as an upset Murray spelt out the legal requirements for the accounts of public entities to be submitted for auditing, such reports being made available to the National Assembly.
Last evening’s session brought the curtains down on two gruelling weeks of debates and extensive queries on the estimates for public spending this year.