The $161B Current and Capital Expenditure for 2011 was yesterday given the approval of the National Assembly for spending in the various sectors when the Appropriation Bill was passed in the House.The expenditures scrutinised yesterday included those for the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire and Prison Service as well as the Ministries of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Legal Affairs and Finance, among others.The issue of the use of contract employees was again questioned, with one such employee being highlighted, namely the Permanent Secretary of the Legal Affairs Ministry, whose salary is in excess of $500, 000 a month, and this was defended by the subject Minister Charles Ramson.Another specific salary that was scrutinised was that of the Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, whose monthly $519,000 was also questioned.The amount was not the bone of contention, rather Shadow Home Affairs Minister Deborah Backer told the House that given the fact that he (Greene) was above the age of 55, he cannot constitutionally be paid as a statutory employee. She suggested that he be paid as a contract employee.Subject Minister Clement Rohee told the House that it was not a matter for his Ministry to deal with, rather it had to be dealt with by the President.During the scrutiny of the expenditure for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) it was found out that the Force is understaffed by more than three hundred ranks. The current strength of the GPF is 3,885 and according to Rohee, the optimum figure should be 4,220.Some $11.5M will be spent this year for the procurement of forensic equipment for the Guyana Police Force and another $11.8M for the purchase of handwriting equipment.Another issue raised by Backer was that of the overpayment for fuel by the force that was raised in the Auditor General (AG)’s 2009 report.Rohee said he was unaware of any such concern raised by the AG, but he was satisfied with the systems in place to ensure the proper purchasing and management of fuel.He said that the Guyana Police Force has some 401 vehicles.Turning to the Guyana Prison Service, it was learnt too that some $195M is budgeted for the feeding of inmates and Rohee told the House that the Prison Service is becoming more self-sufficient as it relates to the farms that it operates. The farms are located in Mazaruni, Lusignan and Timehri.As it relates to Guyana Fire Service, it was disclosed that the administration will be investing in the purchase of more fire tenders and will also be purchasing what Rohee called All Terrain Water Tenders, which will be used in interior locations.With respect to the Supreme Court, Ramson told the House that given the decentralisation of the work of the court there is need for increased security, thus the increase in the allocation.It was also learnt during the scrutiny of contracted employees at the courts that there are currently 12 sitting magistrates in Guyana, five of whom are on contract.Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on January 17, last, presented the largest budget in Guyana’s history. Last week members of the House were given an opportunity to present their views on the budget,Cheap Basketball Jerseys, and during this week, subject ministers were grilled about specific allocations.
