Who Gets What in 2015

Current Non-Interest Expenditure

In this section we consider how the budgeted expenditure is allocated among the principal Ministries, Departments, Regions and Programmes. In view of the reorganisation of Government, we combined agencies as necessary to allow for a meaningful comparison.

Central Government’s non-interest current expenditure (employment costs, statutory expenditure and other charges) for the year is budgeted at $146.3 billion which is 14.73% more than the revised budget 2014. The Ministries/ Departments with the most significant allocations are:

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The regions with the most significant allocations are:
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Significant changes from the previous year’s latest estimates are provided for in the following Ministries/ Departments:

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Capital Expenditure

Central Government’s capital expenditure for the year is budgeted at $39.4 billion which is 22.7% below revised 2014 and 21.2% of total 2015 expenditure. The Ministries/Departments with the most significant capital expenditure allocations compared with the latest estimates for 2014 are:

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Ram & McRae’s Comments

  1. The sum of $13 billion is allocated for enhancing needed infrastructural development to roads and bridges and creating new road linkages of major highways. (See page 30 of Budget Speech).

 

  1. The Government is not in favour of the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project as it is currently configured and it appears that they may not proceed with the project. Expenditure of $347 million is allocated for the construction of Amaila Falls Access Road. (Note: See pages 574 and 569 of volume 1 of the Estimates). We are unsure of the reason for this allocation since it appears that the hydroelectric project will be abandoned. In fact, the Minister in his Budget Speech reported that “…it would not only be irresponsible, but a downright criminal act of deception, were we to proceed with the Amaila Falls”.

 

  1. Dredging of the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers and much needed rehabilitation of stellings located at Georgetown, Parika, Leguan, and Bartica are estimated at $644 million. (Note: See page 31 of Budget Speech).

 

  1. The major changes within several of the Budget Agencies are summarised below:

 

  • The Office of the President, the Public Service Ministry and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment are replaced by the Ministry of Presidency.

 

  • The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is replaced by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

 

  • The various programmes under the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce are now allocated to two new ministries: the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry

of Business.

 

  • The Ministry of Public Works is replaced by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

 

 

  • The Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport is now merged with the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Education also includes several new programmes.

 

  • The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the Ministry of Housing and Water are replaced by the Ministry of Communities.

 

  • The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security is replaced by the Ministry of Social Protection.

 

  • The Ministry of Home Affairs is replaced by the Ministry of Public Security and while some functions are transferred to the new Ministry of Presidency.

 

  1. The Budget Speech does not mention the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) but the rising cost for the administration of elections is extremely troubling. Guyana now ranks among the countries with the most expensive elections yet GECOM is unable to:

 

(a)   deliver timely results of elections

(b)   make recommendations on campaign financing

(c)   weed out ineligible candidates

(d)   offer reassurance of local government elections

Incredibly the 2015 current expense allocation for GECOM at $5.547 billion is more than 125% of the current expenditure of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and 69% of the budget of the Guyana Police Force. These numbers demand that GECOM exercise strict management of and control over expenditure as well as maintain readiness for elections whenever they are called.