… on beds, microwaves, wardrobes, other appliances
One day after Government declared that it is strapped for cash, it has been revealed that millions of dollars have been budgeted for the acquisition of various household items, ranging from beds to dining suites for the Ministry of the Presidency (MotP).
This was disclosed in documents recently submitted to the National Assembly following questions posed by Opposition Member of Parliament Gail Teixeira during the review of the 2017 Budget back in December. The Opposition Chief Whip had enquired about certain equipment that Government wanted to purchase for the MotP.
Full list of items to be purchased
While the response to Teixeira’s queries was presented to the National Assembly, it was somehow kept from the media. However, Guyana Times was able to get a copy of the document which showed that a total of some $38 million was budgeted for these purchases, which are to improve the efficiency of the Ministry.
“The objective of acquiring these equipment is to aid in the efficient attainment of the Ministry’s mandate,” it was stated.
Among the items monies were set aside for were: two beds valued $500,000; three wardrobes total $300,000; dining suites for $2 million; five coffee tables valued $875,000; two suites total $1.1 million; two large refrigerators for $500,000; and eight televisions costing $1.2 million.
Monies were also budgeted for the acquisition of a brush cutter at $100,000; a lawn mower at $130,000; two sets of fans (27 and 28) totalling $1.1 million; five water dispensers costing $375,000 and five electronic kettles valued $127,500.
Other items to be bought include office supplies, security systems and camera and camera equipment.
It was explained that these items will be used to outfit the new departments such as the Department of Environment; National Events; and the MotP, replacing obsolete equipment in the administration and Office of the Climate Change Departments in order to discontinue the rental of photocopiers and printers in the Cabinet Secretariat.
Additionally, it was outlined that MotP will seek to regularise the operations of the gaming authority, which previously operated without any formal equipment or documentation of its business.
This revelation comes on the heels of Government declaring on Thursday last that it is strapped for cash and as such would introduce a number of measures to avoid wastage of State resources and budgetary allocations.
“It means that you have to be a little more careful in how you spend your money so that it lasts. It means that you have to reuse envelopes. There are several measures which we will circulate to Government Ministries on how they can cut back on expenses,” the Minister of State Joesph Harmon told the media at a post-Cabinet press briefing. According to Harmon, “there are practical measures which will be used by the Government to ensure the austerity that I am talking about and that the monies which you have will last you longer and that you don’t have to go back later in the year (to the National Assembly) for supplementary (funds) so it is really about being very sensible and using the resources which you have to the best of your ability.”
