Some of the $87 million allocated for the provision of drugs and medical supplies for Region Two in 2015 were not used due to delays in the procurement process and have since been returned to the Health Ministry, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan said yesterday.
Bulkan at the time was responding to questions during the consideration of the estimates for that Region but did not reveal the amount of money that had to be returned and when this was done.
Facing questions from opposition MP Dr Frank Anthony, he told the House that the doubling of last year’s figure to $176 million would cater for the elimination of any possibility of a shortage of supplies including surgical gloves. He said that if there was a shortage in 2015 it is not envisioned that this will be the case this year.
For a second day Bulkan faced questions. His ministry is very large as it deals with all ten administrative regions.
By the 4 pm break yesterday, the Committee of Supply was an hour behind schedule and had only completed consideration of Regions One and Two, but not Region Three. Despite pleas from the Speaker for the members of the House to stick to the allotted times, the opposition piled on questions as they sought explanations and clarification of a number of issues in the estimates.
On a few occasions, the Speaker limited the questions.
With regard to Region Two, PPP MP Cornell Damon raised questions pertaining to persons with technical and craft skills who together will be paid $8.070 million in comparison to the $5.889 million spent last year.
The minister revealed that there are three accounts clerks being paid approximately $61,000 each per month; assistant accountants being paid approximately $75,000; a personnel officer, $72,000; stock verifier, $70,000 and a storekeeper, $74,000.
Damon pointed out that there is an almost $2 million difference compared to the allocations for 2015 and he questioned if those persons are “entitled to $2 million.”
The minister in response said that was a suggestive question and later added that the budgetary provision is to cater for salaries for the designations that had been outlined.
Damon rose to ask a follow-up question and was promptly informed by the Speaker that he will only get one additional question. Clearly surprised, he proceeded to inquire about the “massive increase” in the allocation for the payment of contract workers’ salaries from $32 million in 2015 to $40 million this year and asked whether advertisements were placed in the newspaper for these positions.
Bulkan in response stated that five additional contracted employees were hired, noting that “there have been floods of applications directed to all of the ministries and all our RDCs so sometimes it is not necessary for positions such as these… to do public advertisements.” This response resulted in an outburst from the opposition.
Damon, not satisfied with the answer provided, asked whether what Bulkan was saying was not a breach of the public service laws. “It’s a breach” and “you have to advertise the position”, were just some of the comments shouted by the opposition MPs.
Bulkan said in response that there is always a case where there are many applications on file and later firmly said, “No, it is not a breach.”
Clearly intent on getting more information out of government, opposition MP Collin Croal asked if any advertisements for these posts had been placed regionally as opposed to nationally in keeping with protocols. Bulkan told the House that notices were publicly placed at the RDC office building.
Asked if this evidence can be produced, the minister said that “efforts will be made to see if copies of those ads can be made available.”
Damon asked if the $10.5 million set aside for the provisions of play parks on the Essequibo Coast will benefit residents. The minister responded in the affirmative while adding that those in Georgetown can already see and smell the difference. He said that this is part of government’s plan to transform the country and make use of green spaces. He said that this budgetary allocation will benefit three communities in Region Two inclusive of Exmouth and Anna Regina.
Following up, Damon asked if the minister was aware that the recreational park at Exmouth is on private property, and he provided the House with a name. Bulkan said that he is in receipt of no such information; what has been provided by the Lands and Survey Commission is that the park is on state property. When the minister sought the guidance of the House and inquired whether he could caution Damon, Damon retorted heatedly, “Caution for what? I have the facts”
After some back and forth, Damon undertook to provide whatever information he had on the matter to the House.
Meanwhile, with regard to Region One, following questions, Bulkan undertook to provide the required information on the increase in contract workers and their salaries as well as amount of money that will be spent on drugs and medical supplies for the region.
