Georgetown : While there are those that lauds the creation of a new Ministry to bring under it purview the Natural Resources of the country there are those that criticize the expansion of Government while others question the downright legality of the operation of this new entity.
Speaking exclusively with this publication recently Former Finance Minister Carl Greenidge says that he is yet to see the new ministry officially Gazetted hence all of the expenditure at the direction of the Minister Robert Persaud can be considered illegal.
Greenidge says that what is even more reprehensible is the fact that Minister Robert Persaud is even instructing entities outside of his purview to undertake expenditure.
Greenidge was referring to a request made by Persaud to have the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission expend monies from its revenue to purchase an elephant for the Zoological Park.
Greenidge said that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is proposing to request of the Government (and we are at one with the AFC on this) to have all of the agencies such as the GGMC which are semi-autonomous in nature and manages its own revenue to be brought under the purview of the Consolidated Fund.
He explained that these agencies are supposed to manage revenue in trust for the state but given the manner in which the entities have been operating Greenidge is pushing for them to be brought back under the purview of the Consolidated Fund.
“We have seen that these things have been extensively abused….It is not only a NICIL problem or a rogue official.”
Greenidge said the fact that the Minister happens to be assigned two different ministries does not give him the power to simply take money from one operating entity and use it for another let alone instructing the entity itself to be making purchases for which don’t fall within his competence and for which the articles of association and the article establishing the entity stipulates.
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