Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 12, 2014 News
– MP wants overseeing role
A $2.8B allocation for the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development was yesterday approved in the National Assembly but not before searching questions were asked about $2B set aside for the Haags Bosch dumpsite development and a major cleanup of the city.
In the latter project, $1B has been provided for cleanup and environmental enhancement in the rural and
urban areas.
Minister Norman Whittaker admitted that while $500M will be used to clear drains and kokers in Georgetown, the Ministry will not just be passing the money over to the City Council.
Rather, the city management will play a stakeholder role in which several ministries, including the Ministries of Agriculture, Tourism and Public Works, will also be participating.
The state of the city has been a major thorn in the side of both City Council and the administration for years.
City Council has accused Government over starving it for funds and the latter has been accusing the Council of mismanagement the affairs.
With Local Government Elections long overdue, finances for capital programs and even the more mundane operations have been tight.
Cemeteries, drains, garbage collections and illegal vending have been major problems facing the City Council.
The $1B allocation would be the largest sum in recent times to help the cleanup.
Some $359M allocated for capital works in the Municipalities and 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils also came in for scrutiny with the Ministry insisting that it has reworked how the Councils receive their annual assistance from Central Government.
Regarding the Haags Bosch landfill project, aback Eccles, East Bank Demerara, Government disclosed that the monies will be used to complete the construction.
That project had replaced Le Repentir dumpsite in the city which reached capacity and had to be closed a few years ago.
The administration said that it was fine-tuning new solid waste legislations that will address how garbage is tackled by the country.
The Minister admitted that while $1B has been requested, it is too early to tell how expensive the cleanup will prove as there is need for an in-depth assessment of the needs.
The Opposition factions also queried whether the clean-up would clash with a $484M provision under the Housing Ministry for community infrastructure projects.
The Government side assured that it would not.
Annette Ferguson, a Member of Parliament for A Partnership for National Unity, (APNU), wanted Parliamentarians from the various regions to help overlook the cleanup.
Also passed yesterday were the allocations for Region One (Barima/Waini) for $1.76B, representing more than the $200M spent in that Region last year.
Approval was also given to Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) for its $2.6B, also a $200M increase over the 2013 figures.
Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) budget of $3.26B, almost $230M more than last year, was also given the blessings of the National Assembly.
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