Georgetown : The estimates of expenditure for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment totalling $511.3M was approved by the National Assembly.
APNU MP, Volda Lawrence querried a $1M allocation that was budgeted for, and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Robert Persaud said that allocation will cater for allowances for the principal assistant secretary (finance) whose appointment took effect in 2013.
Meanwhile, APNU front bencher, Rupert Roopnarine questioned the increase in the sums budgeted for contracted employees. The Minister responded that this increase will cater for five new contracted employees. These include: three graduate engineers who have returned from Cuba, one legal advisor who was awarded a Government scholarship, and one technical officer to assist in monitoring and enforcement.
With regards to increased sums budgeted for training, Minister Persaud explained that there are a number of new initiatives that are constantly brought to the fore, both at the domestic and international levels.
He further explained that would require staffers and even other stakeholders to be trained particularly in the extractive industry for a number of initiatives. Moreover, there is a range of new issues that the sector has to address and as such, there is need for capacity building to enhance its capabilities.
APNU MP, James Bond inquired about the number of staff that is slated to benefit from the training.The Minister replied that the size of the cohort to be trained will depend on the subject at hand and applicability of the programmes.
Bond also asked if the Ministry has a policy of sponsoring students to pursue studies at the University of Guyana. The Minister replied that while that role the Public Service Ministry’s, agencies such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission will support the geology programme at UG while, the Guyana Forestry Commission will support certain programmes at UG as well as the Guyana School of Agriculture.
Meanwhile, APNU MP, Annette Ferguson queried about the increase of $3M for security services for the Ministry. The Natural Resources Minister reminded the House that for a part of 2013, the Ministry was housed within the precincts of the Office of the President and as such, it benefitted from the security provided for that compound.
However, now that the Ministry has relocated to its own office in Brickdam, Georgetown, it has contracted GEB security firm for the provision of security services.
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