-$30M set aside for burnt out ministry

In the absence of the opposition parties who boycotted yesterday’s sitting, the National Assembly passed the Supplementary Appropriation Bill (No. 1 for 2009) approving $2.780 billion for current and capital expenditure, which includes $30 million to be used for the refurbishing of the recently burnt Ministry of Health building.

Financial Paper 1/2009 covered current and capital estimates totalling $247,406,429 for the period July 16, 2009 to December 31, 2009, while Financial Paper 2/2009 covers current and capital estimates totaling $2,533,085,355 for the period ending December 31, 2009.

At yesterday’s sitting, the National Assembly approved $30 million, which is to be used for the “refurbishing of offices, electrical installation and plumbing to existing buildings to house staff of Ministry of Health that formerly occupied the building that was destroyed by fire.”

Additional provisions to the tune of $10 million were approved for the rehabilitation of the roof of the teaching and sanitary blocks at President’s College, while approval was granted for the provision of an additional $115 million to meet expenditure for the Joint Services. A further $175 million was granted for the rehabilitation of the Mahaicony Branch Road and De Hoop Branch Road, while more than $15 million was approved for the rehabilitation of Colgrain House.

All these projects fall under the purview of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications.

Meanwhile $79, 376,000 was approved for the National Hinterland Secure Livelihood Programme.

As expected, with no Opposition member at yesterday’s sitting, no queries were raised about the proposed expenditure.