The Government on Thursday tabled a financial paper in Parliament for supplementary funding to the tune of $61 billion for the period ending December 31st, 2023 and a major item is community roads.
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, presented Financial Paper #3 on the supplementary provisions which showed current estimates & capital estimates amounting to $10.18 billion and $50.83 billion respectively. It will likely be considered at a sitting next week.
After receiving a sum of $6oom to facilitate works on the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the Ministry of Public Works is expected to receive an additional sum of $568m to undertake critical rehabilitation works, specifically for the rehabilitation and fabrication of the high span & pontoons.
After having been allocated $31 billion in this year’s fiscal plan an additional $25 billion is expected to be allocated to the Ministry of Public Works towards the construction and rehabilitation of community roads.
Once approved by the National Assembly, an additional $1.5b & $1b will be allocated towards the rehabilitation of hinterland and urban road works respectively.
Despite a voted provision of $3.6b for the construction of the four-lane Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge, a supplementary provision of $2.1 billion is being sought.
An additional $600 million has been earmarked to address emerging threats along the sea and river defences network. The voted provision was $3.5b.
The Kumaka & Supenaam stellings which have already been assigned $240m will now receive an additional sum of $32.7m to facilitate emergency works.
The Kingston Goods Wharf, Kumaka, Morawhanna & Port Kaituma Stellings are also slated to receive additional financial provisions of $2.5 billion to facilitate advancement works after receiving a sum of $2.1 billion.
In relation to the Ministry of Housing & Water, an additional sum of $500m will go towards infrastructural development and buildings, followed by an expanded work programme for vulnerable communities. The voted provision was $50b.
The Renewable Energy Improvement – Power System Project which falls under the ambit of the Office of the Prime Minister will see an additional sum of $45 million once the paper is approved.
The Gas to Shore Energy Project will see an added sum of $5 billion to support the advancement of transmission and distribution initiatives. The voted provision was $43.3b
As it relates to the agriculture sector, the Guyana Sugar Corporation after receiving $2 billion will see a further $1.5b to facilitate the rehabilitation of 1,572 hectares of temporarily abandoned lands at the Albion, Blairmont, Rose Hall & Uitvlugt estates.
On July 20 this year, the government secured approval for $26,532,000,000 in supplementary provisions to cover projects such as the replication of the Hope drainage canal in regions five and six and other sea defence projects.
The sum was encompassed in Financial Paper No. 2 presented by Singh.
Earlier on June 20, Financial Paper No.1 for $4.7B was approved to cover advances made from the Contingency Fund.
