Current Non-Interest Expenditure
In this section we consider how the budgeted expenditure is allocated among the principal Ministries, Departments, Regions and Programmes.
Central Government’s non-interest current expenditure (employment costs, statutory expenditure and other charges) for the year is budgeted at $112.5Bn which is 5.04% more than budget 2012. The Ministries/ Departments with the most significant allocations are:
The regions with the most significant allocations are:
Significant changes from the previous year’s latest estimates are provided for in the following Ministries/ Departments:
Capital Expenditure
Central Government’s capital expenditure for the year is budgeted at $85.6Bn which is 51.7% above revised 2012 and 40.9% of total 2013 expenditure. The Ministries/Departments with the most significant capital expenditure allocations compared with the latest estimates for 2012 are:
Highlights from Minister’s Speech
The Minister in his speech highlighted the following allocations:
Educational facilities $28.7Bn
Health facilities $19.2Bn
Public safety and security $17.5Bn
Roads and bridges $12.6Bn
Drainage and irrigation structures $6.5Bn
Air and river transport $5.3Bn
Support to the sugar industry $1.0Bn
Housing $3.1Bn
e-Government $2.0Bn
Sea defense structures $1.9Bn
Water supply system $2.7Bn
Power sector $11.2Bn
Agriculture sector $1.9Bn
Sanitation $600Mn
Ram & McRae’s Comments
i Proceeds from the R.E.D.D. Investment Fund were a mere $839 million compared to a budget of $18.4 billion in 2012. The Minister now provides for $20 billion, the drawdown of which depends on Government’s ability to meet its obligations.
ii Expenditure of non-budgetary funds continues to be significant with the administration allocating monies for major contracts, social and other developments. The construction of the Marriott Hotel is a key non-budgetary project. Other entities that engage in large amounts of public expenditure without parliamentary scrutiny and approval are the Guyana Forestry Commission; the Geology and Mines Commission; the Central Housing and Planning Authority; and the Lottery Commission. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, which increased its bank balance by $5.7Bn over the last two years, plans to expend over $7 billion as “other operating expenses”, up from $3 billion in 2012.
iii More recently the President has announced that twenty-seven Amerindian communities will receive a $5Mn grant each to execute economic ventures, provide employment and promote sustainable development. The programme is being funded by the Norwegian Government through the Guyana REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) Investment Fund – GRIF.
iv Again a huge sum is being voted for GECOM for which no justification was offered.
v Expenditure on the CJIA Modernisation Project is projected at $5.35 billion on top of $4.32 billion spent in 2012 – a mobilisation advance.
