The Region Four REO’s office says it has already expended over 77% of its current appropriation and Chairman Clement Corlette’s concerns that unspent sums would have to be returned at year end, jeopardising budget proposals for next year are erroneous.
It was the latest salvo in an ongoing battle between Corlette and Regional Executive Officer (REO) Shafdar Alli. Corlette is a PNCR-1G councillor while the REO is appointed by the government.
In an interview with Stabroek News titled “Huge sums still unspent in Region 4 – 2008 Budget” Corlette had said he was concerned that the allotted money was not being disbursed properly since over $500 million was still unspent to date, with only two months remaining in the year.
In refuting the article Regional Information Officer Rajiv Bisnauth said in a press release that the region has already spent 77.1% of its appropriation and of the $500M mentioned by Corlette, $340M or 68% is for employment costs alone. He accused Corlette of being mischievous as his concerns that huge sums were still unspent gives the impression that the remaining money is for works to be done and not day-to-day expenditure and maintenance for the administration for the remainder of the year. Further, the statement said that projects have already been awarded for works in drainage and irrigation and roads which have already begun and for which expenditure has been committed.
As regard the claim about unspent sums in education resulting in electricity being disconnected at many of the region’s schools Bisnauth said the regional administration is processing vouchers for GPL and that bills are paid as received. The administration also disputed the $2M health care figure stated by Corlette saying there is no such line item under the Health Programme. The said sum had been allocated for drugs and medical supplies which are currently being provided by the central ministry.
The statement also said Corlette is given weekly financial reports and a monthly update of the region’s work programme through the regional works committee. The statement also said that when the REO had been asked about the $500M at the last statutory meeting an explanation was given. Corlette had voiced concerns that the unspent sums would have to be returned at the end of the year and any ambitious budget proposal by the region for next year could easily be disputed if the region had a record of unspent money. PNCR Councillor Maureen Philadelphia who is also a member of the region’s Tender Board had echoed his concerns. She had said that money would have to be returned to the finance ministry when there are many things in the region still to be done.
