The $1.1B budget estimates for the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce was on Wednesday approved by the Committee of Supply, without cuts proposed by the AFC.
The AFC had proposed to cut the allocation of $259M for the competitiveness programme by $100M, but decided against proceeding after acting Minister sought to account for how the money would be spent.
During the consideration of the estimates, Ali also proudly boasted of GuyExpo’s financial independence, which he explained was the reason why it did not receive an allocation.
Line item 6291 was put under scrutiny by APNU MP Joseph Harmon, who probed the disbursement of monies for national and other events. In response, Ali listed a series of events, which included Mahramani, Linden Town Day, the Bartica Regatta, Jamzone and Diwali Nagar, among others.
However GuyExpo was not listed and Harmon wanted to know why.
Ali stated that this event was not catered for as it is a “self-sufficient” event and monies from one year runs into the other therefore it did not require any from government.
Follow up questions were also asked by APNU’s Carl Greenidge about how the GuyExpo committee is appointed and if its’ financial statements are audited. Ali informed that the committee was co-chaired by him and includes membership from the small business community, who volunteer their services. They do produce financial reports and these are audited, he added.
APNU MP Jaipaul Sharma wanted to know the number of vehicles owned by the ministry and if others would be purchased given that last year the Auditor General had expressed concern over the huge taxi bill incurred by the ministry.
Ali said as the ministry tries to “come in line especially on the uses of taxis,” it has written to the Ministry of Finance requesting consideration that three vehicles seized by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) be given to it for everyday uses.
Meanwhile, with $116M to be given to the Tourism Board, Ali was asked to explain what it would be used for and what the board’s functions were.
He said that the allocation caters for developing the sector and includes procuring brochures and community-based brochures. It frequently meets and its membership consists of Ramesh Ghir, Gerry Gouveia, Frank Singh Peter Ramsaroop and Sharifah Razack, among others. They are responsible for licensing lodges and resorts here and that there 100 registered lodges, 85 to be inspected and 19 unregistered, he noted.
There are also allocations for out of the country awareness markets and he said that Guyana would be participating in trade shows in New York and Toronto and in the London Bird Fair.
