| Simply returning Financial Papers with expenditure that previously did not gain the support of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) does not guarantee approval.Opposition Leader, David GrangerThis is the position held by Leader of the Political Opposition, Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger, who said that while the coalition is still to take a definitive position, some of the expenditure returned had been previously voted down as a matter of principle.He said that the coalition’s Shadow Cabinet will meet today and take a decision on how it will be voting on Thursday.Granger did point out that key to the decision-making process would be if the Finance Minister has provided the requisite explanatory information accompanying the expenditure amounts.Granger reminded of a previous occasion where Speaker of the National Assembly,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, Raphael Trotman, had pointed out to Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, that he would not be allowing debates on Financial Papers, if they do not meet the requirements of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, as it relates to providing the required information.Under the Substantive Law,Jerseys NFL Cheap, after drawing down from the Contingencies Fund,NFL Jerseys Outlet, “The Minister shall report at the next sitting of the National Assembly on all advances made out of the Contingencies Fund since the previous report of the Minister, which report shall specify – (a) the amounts advanced; (b) to whom the amounts were paid; and (c) the purpose of the advances.”Granger pointed out too that another main consideration that the coalition will be addressing is whether the moneys that had been drawn down by the Finance Minister from the Contingencies Fund, meet the criteria.Under the law, “The Minister, when satisfied that an urgent, unavoidable and unforeseen need for expenditure has arisen – (a) for which no moneys have been appropriated or for which the sum appropriated is insufficient; (b) for which moneys cannot be reallocated as provided for under this Act; or (c) which cannot be deferred without injury to the public interest, may approve a Contingencies Fund advance as an expenditure out of the Consolidated Fund by the issuance of a drawing right.”The last time the National Assembly met, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, tabled two Financial Papers representing expenditure he would have approved in the final two months of 2013 amounting to just about $1.5B.The scrutiny and vote on the amounts is scheduled on the Order Paper for Thursday’s sitting.According to the details of one of the Supplementary requests to the 2013 Budget, between November 6, last year and December 31, $121.9M was transferred to the Ministry of Public Works and the expenditure was incurred in relation to providing additional support to Transport and Harbours Department.The Ministry of Home Affairs was also a beneficiary of moneys allocated over the two-month period.The Financial Paper details that $69M was used in relation to increased travelling by ranks to conduct investigations, especially in interior locations. The Ministry was initially given $616.5M for local travel and subsistence. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was also the recipient of $100M.According to the Financial Paper, the expenditure was “incurred in relation to Joint Services Operations.” The money was provided under the line item,Cheap NFL Jerseys, “dietary” for which it had already received more than $747M.The GDF also received $50M under the line item for equipment maintenance and according to the description provided, “Expenditure incurred in relation to Joint Services Operations.”It had initially been allocated $320M for the force’s equipment maintenance.The GDF spent an additional $51M, moneys which it received under the line item, “Other Transport, Travel and Postage.” The explanation for this expenditure was said to be in relation to Joint Services Operations. It received a further $36M for its Vehicle Spares and Services.The Ministry of Agriculture’s Crops and Livestock Support Services also received under its Agriculture Export Diversification Project, $257.5M. The Ministry’s explanation of how the money was spent is, “Provision for additional inflows specific to drainage and irrigation works including control structures, gates,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, culverts,Cheap World Cup Jerseys 2018, bridges, pump station and rehabilitation of channels and consultancy services.”The Ministry of Housing and Water under its Low Income Settlement Programme, received an additional $97.6M.“Provision for additional inflows specific to upgrading of roads, construction of core homes and supply of materials and labour for the construction of houses under the hinterland pilot component” was its explanation. |
