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House approves $6.2B for Ministry of the Presidency
– six advisors earning $500,000 each
– “unconstitutional” budget crisis staved off
The empty chair of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo
The business end of the 2015 National Budget got underway yesterday with the House passing over $6.2B, but not before hours of wrangling whether sections of the National Budget 2015 was legal and whether Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo could sit in the National Assembly.
The considerations of the estimates were supposed to commence at 09:30hrs but were delayed until after 13:00hrs.
The first situation had to do with Prime Minister Nagamootoo who was sworn in to perform the duties of President as Head of State David Granger was reportedly heading for Trinidad on a personal visit.
As President, Nagamootoo is not allowed to sit in the National Assembly.
During a press conference at midday sought to insist that he was still the Prime Minister, but just performing the duties of the President. He was in the National Assembly when the budget deliberations started.
Another major issue was the clashing of two pieces of legislation which paved the way for a number of constitutional agencies to receive monies directly from the Consolidated Fund and not be dependent on a particular ministry.
The budget estimates failed to take into consideration the law changes, the Opposition argued. The affected bodies include the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Public Service Appellate Tribunal, Public Procurement Commission, Teaching Service Commission, Police Service Commission, Office of the Ombudsman, Office of the Parliament, Guyana Elections Commission, Supreme Court of Judicature, Judicial Service Commission, Rights Commission and the Ethnic Relations Commission.
According to the Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland, the Opposition wrote him indicating its concerns.
It was finally agreed, after several meetings between the Speaker, the Government and the Opposition, that the estimates would be amended with the monies relocated and placed as a lump sum.
Amendments were also made to allow new ministries including the Ministry of the Presidency; the Ministry of Communities; Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs; Ministry of Social Protection; Ministry of Public Security; Ministry of Public Health; Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Business.
The Ministry of Finance was expected to correct the situation by an order that will be gazetted to take effect from August 22nd.
Yesterday, there were questions about special advisors at the Ministry of the Presidency.
Questioned by Juan Edghill, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Opposition, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, disclosed that six advisors were on contract receiving over $500,000 each. The monies would exclude allowances like travelling, telephone and entertainment, which are standard and what prevailed in the previous administration, Harmon said.
The advisors include Fred McWilfred, Professor Clive Thomas, Edward Collins, Aubrey Norton, Mark Archer and Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Gary Best.
The monies passed would include for the Ministry of the Presidency – Administrative Services, Presidential Advisory, Defence and National Security, Policy Development and Administration, Public Service Ministry, Natural Resources Management and Citizenship and Immigration Services.
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