Introduction
On 15 February 2012, the National Assembly considered Financial Paper No. 7 presented by the Minister of Finance for a supplementary estimate of $2.241 billion to replenish the Contingencies Fund for advances taken during the last quarter of 2011. The Assembly approved of most of the items contained in the paper, with the exception of $79.6 million because, in its view, additional explanations were needed.
The two main items rejected were: $25.5 million expended on national awards and the swearing in of the new President; and $29.1 million for site preparation for the construction of the new specialty hospital. The National Assembly agreed that the Minister could make a resubmission at a later date. The resubmitted request was considered on 14 June 2012 via Financial Paper No. 9. However, the Assembly withheld approval because there were no changes to the original submission. As a result, the Contingencies Fund is yet to be reimbursed with $79.619 million, and it is unclear how the matter will be resolved.
It should be clarified that there are two types of supplementary estimates: (a) to clear advances from the Contingencies Fund for expenditure already incurred; and (b) to meet expenditure to
