A total of $11.8 billion has been allotted for the security sector this year.
The former Ministry of Home Affairs spent $7.5 billion as of August and $4.3 billion is estimated to be spent under its successor, the Ministry of Public Security, for the remaining four months of the year.
In comparison, last year, $9.3 billion was budgeted for the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan stood before the Committee of Supply on Wednesday evening to defend his ministry’s allocation and he was questioned on the state’s decision to subcontract security services to private entities rather than the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
The state currently employs Kalibur Security Service and MMC to provide security for secretariat services of the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to Ramjattan, one provides monitoring services while the other one provides armed services at the cost of $2 million for a 4-month period.
When asked by a member of the opposition, if it sends a wrong signal that the ministry has to employ private security, Ramjattan said it is a situation that was inherited and has been continued for the time being.
