Opposition’s proposed budget cuts leaves Home Ministry in limbo

clement-roheeGeorgetown : Opposition party, Alliance for Change (AFC) has signalled its intent to cut $96.5M from the $187.3M allocated to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the 2013 National Budget.

According to Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee the Opposition’s proposed cut of the ministry’s budget has resulted in an air of uncertainty at the ministry as workers are worried that the security of their job.

Minister Rohee pointed out that the proposal is to reduce the 91 contracted employees of the ministry to 23.

 “What is going to happen to these people?” the Minister asked. “At this point of time there is an air of uncertainty …I do not know if anyone would like to be in this situation…everyone looks for job security. Who likes to know that their jobs would be in limbo? Nobody wants to be put in a position of job insecurity,” he said.

The Home Affairs Minister said also that the cuts, which will affect the Citizen Security Programme, would have an effect on the operations of the Ministry. “They have left the ministry of Home Affairs naked so to speak …taken away 60 staff members, how is the ministry going to manage and oversight the responsibility that it has?” he asked.

Consideration for the Home Affairs Ministry estimates is slated for April 18 in the National Assembly.