House clears estimates for several ministries

The National Assembly on Wednesday evening cleared the estimates for several ministries and departments, although the Alliance For Change (AFC) voted against an allocation of over Gy$ 18 million for the provision of security services to the Housing and Water Ministry. Fireworks were expected in the House on Wednesday, following the opposition’s postures during the debate, but for most part, government ministers were able to provide satisfactory answers to inquiring opposition parliamentarians.

Also the contentious issue of contract workers, which the AFC had highlighted in a motion, also did not cause any showdown as answers were provided to the satisfaction of the House. The estimates of expenditure for the Housing and Water Ministry were the first to be approved.

The estimates for the Culture, Youth and Sport; Tourism; Labour; Human Services and Social Security ministries were also given the green light. AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan questioned Housing Minister Irfaan Ali about the portfolios and salaries for the top five contract workers under the ministry’s current expenditure and the answers were readily provided.

Ali explained that the top five contract workers in the ministry included the permanent secretary, who receives a salary of Gy$ 509,082 and an allowance of Gy$ 14,000; two civil engineers and two mechanical engineers, whose salaries are approximately Gy$ 108,000 each, plus an allowance of Gy$ 9000.

There was an increase in the sums budgeted for security services, and Minister Ali explained that a public procurement process was carried out which attracted three private security firms, namely: RK Security, Strategic Security Services and Federal Management Systems Inc, and of the three bidders, RK Security was awarded the contract as it placed the lowest offer to the tender.

When asked what accounted for the increase in the allocation for security services this year, the minister said that services were provided by the Special Constabulary in 2011; however, this body had indicated that it does not have sufficient manpower to continue providing such services, and as such, the sums budgeted for this year will cater for all the required services.

These include security services for the ministry’s main and project offices, and the residence of the minister and the permanent secretary. Notwithstanding the minister’s explanation, the AFC indicated that it was not satisfied, and called for a vote by division. However, members of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) abstained from voting, resulting in the passage of the item. Several questions were also posed to the minister with regards to the capital estimates, all of which were answered comprehensively by Ali.

This year, the Housing and Water Ministry is working to have a further 6500 house lots and 4000 land titles distributed, and a vast infrastructural development programme will be undertaken to improve roads, drains and structures in existing schemes. Ali, who is also acting tourism minister, was asked about the four contract employees who were hired by the ministry as of 2011.

It was revealed that the contract employees did not receive bloated salaries as the opposition had been expecting, instead, Ali stated that the liaison officer receive Gy$ 114,000 with a Gy$ 10,000 allowance; the other three contract employees received Gy$ 85,000, Gy$ 57,000 and Gy$ 39,000. Ali noted that “over the last quarter, we have used a large amount of taxis to conduct business” which attributed the almost Gy$ 500,000 in local travel expenses.

Ali also stated that these expenditures were necessary as there was no previous allotment for a vehicle with regards to programme 233, under commerce, industry and consumer affairs.