The Culture Digest - Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Gov't wants $26 billion in additional funding from Parliament -GRA auditors keep quitting -Ombudsman has no investigators -Granger to miss PNCR Congress -Joint Services officers to get UG scholarships
Good morning Guyana!
Welcome to the Wednesday, December 15, 2021, edition of The Culture Digest.
Here’s what happened since yesterday’s edition. The government wants $26 billion in additional funding from Parliament… GRA auditors keep quitting… Ombudsman has no investigators… Granger to miss PNCR Congress… Joint Services officers to get government scholarships to study at UG.
TOP STORY
PARLIAMENT DAY TWO
If yesterday was all about Crime, today Parliament was all about the money. The government has approached the National Assembly for approval of an additional $26 Billion in supplementary funding. However, $5.1 billion of the requested funds was already spent from the contingency fund to pay for cash grants for the severed sugar workers, parents of schoolchildren, the flood relief fund, and other cash grant initiatives. However, it is only now seeking approval for those monies. With the additional $21 billion the government seeks, it hopes to pay GPL's $4B in arrears, another $7.7B for the Ministry of Housing, $440M to finance Indigenous projects. $755M will go to emergency drainage works. $225 million to repair police cars. $150M for a fire truck. $140.7M to repair and build fire hydrants. $16.6 million will go to rehabilitation works at City Hall, and the remaining money is supposed to pay for capital expenditures, including construction works at CJIA.
Nevertheless, they are seeking more money six months after the House approved a $21B supplementary budget, which was in addition to the $383 billion budget, which was passed in January. The National Assembly will debate this $26 billion funding request next week. (You know what they say, Never let a good crisis go to waste.)
BUSINESS/NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Poor salary sends GRA Petroleum Revenue Auditors running for greener pastures
The GRA is desperately trying to hold on to the few trained petroleum revenue auditors they have, as a majority of them left for higher-paying jobs in the private sector. Since petroleum auditing is new to Guyana and no foreigner wanted to work for chump change, the GRA decided to train several in-house staff members who were then expected to train others. But instead of doing that, most of them left. The Petroleum Revenue Department has a staff of 26, but with plans to fill the Cost Audit’s vacancies, the number is expected to increase to 48 by year-end. But they believe that will only be possible if the people are adequately compensated for their work.
Exxon to build its own shore base
There is only one shore base in Guyana, but that one is not enough for Exxon. Since they can't wait for us to build another one, Country Manager Alistair Routledge announced that they will be establishing their own shore base for the Yellowtail project despite not even having official government approval for the project yet.
EU releases €7.5 million for Guyana Sea Defense
On Tuesday, the EU released an additional €7.5 million in budgetary support to Guyana. Between 2017 and today, Guyana received $74.5 Billion GYD under the Integrated Coastal Management Program. Guyana has built almost 10 kilometers of Sea defense with the funds and rehabilitated other sections of our sea defenses.
POLITICS
Ombudsman has NO investigators
Despite being the department tasked with protecting citizens from government corruption and abuse of power, the Office of the Ombudsman has no investigators. This is a situation that has been ongoing for years. And, it is because of a lack of investigators there has been little to no progress. Out of some 87 complaints received between 2019 and 2020, only 37 were resolved, and 28 of said cases were actually out of the office's jurisdiction. Ombudsman, Retired Justice Winston Patterson noted that the Police Commissioner was among those officials who failed to reply to his correspondence, even though Patterson sent multiple reminders.
Granger skips PNCR Congress for “medical reasons”
Granger will miss this weekend's PNC Congress as he is heading to Cuba today for “medical reasons.” He didn't give details of his current medical condition to the party's Central Executive Committee. But he did miss several follow-up visits to his doctors in Cuba because of the travel restrictions. He did not tell the Committee when he would return, but I assume he's probably going to move to that farm up the highway Jagdeo said he would move to when the PPP lost in 2015.
New GECOM CEO sworn in
Vishnu Persaud has been sworn in as GECOM's Chief Elections Officer. Unlike his predecessor, he promises not to commit election fraud. However, Aubrey Norton is not convinced. He believes that Chairman Claudette Singh colluded with the PPP nominated commissioners to vote for Persaud. Nevertheless, Persaud says he is confident that we will have Local Government Elections in 2022.
HEALTH/PUBLIC SAFETY
No More Dunce Cops?
President Ali is making each Police commander go to UG, and the government will pay for them to pursue bachelor's and master's degrees. But they are not alone; at least 50 regular police officers and several GDF ranks per year will be nominated for a full scholarship to UG.
IN OTHER NEWS
The Minibus Union has just implemented a uniform policy to prevent touting. While the policy has been in place for a while now, they are now trying to get uniforms for all its members. (While I'm all for the uniforms, I don't see how that will eradicate touting. The police are right there at the park, but they don't care to enforce the law. So I fail to see how a collared jersey and cap would make a difference.)
CRIME
Police have arrested two men after some 13.4 pounds of marijuana was discovered at a house in West Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Still no word on that container of Coke N Rum in Holland.
For The Culture Guyana
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You’re all caught up with your news (and history) for the morning. You’re welcome.
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