Georgetown: Following the confusion that stemmed from the submission of a motion indicating Budget cuts by Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, for in excess of US$15M the first opportunity to effect the intimations presented itself as the House resolved itself into Committee of Supply.
This was on Tuesday, at the time of the consideration of the Current Expenditure for the Minister of Housing Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman sought clarification on the security allocations for the Ministry that was increased from $7.3M to $18.8M
Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ally, proceeded to inform the House that the Ministry had approached the Special Constables with a view to having them expand the security services to include some additional buildings.
Ally said that Special Constable informed the Ministry that as a result of limited manpower such a request could not be accommodated.
He proceeded to say that through a public tendering process RKs Security service was awarded the contract and the contract price of $18.8M emanated from that process.
This explanation did not find favour with Ramjattan who promptly informed the House that he would like to have the $18.8M allocation slashed by $9.8M.
He called for a division of the votes to be reflected at which point in time A partnership for National Unity abstained from voting.
As a result the call to slash the $18.8M by $9.8M was defeated 32 to 7 given that APNU abstained to partake in the voting session.
Following the refusal of APNU to support the cut, Ramjattan declined to put forward any other amendments with a view to slashing allocations and had expressed his disappointment with APNUs decision to withhold its support for the $9.8M cut.
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