Georgetown: Regional Executive Officers (REO) and other officials from the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) Thursday began meeting with various ministerial teams to refine their 2017 proposed work programmes with the aim of having their budgets finalized and approved.
The meeting was held at the Umana Yana and was facilitated by the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan and Permanent Secretary Emil McGarrell.
A team from the Ministry of Finance led by Finance Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Hector Butts, Ministry of Education and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and his team were all present to lend assistance to the fine-tuning of the capital expenditure of the various regions.
Minister Bulkan outlined that the meeting was aimed at bringing together the sector ministries and RDCs to initiate the process that leads to the preparation and finalization of budgets for the various RDCs.
He noted that this fresh approach taken by the administration is geared towards ensuring a financial management system and an astute accountability framework are in place at the regional level.
“At the level of Central Government, we are committed to the highest standards of accountability and transparency. It is within our mandate to make sure that where there are weaknesses and gaps that exist, it is brought to the attention of the appropriate personnel so there is no recurrence,” the Communities Minister said.
He detailed that specific issues relating to the financial management of RDC will be highlighted by the team from the Ministry of Finance largely to draw attention to the serious concerns which exist within the system.
“We want to ensure there is a clear understanding that at the level of central government, no corrupt practices will be condoned and should these issues be a recurrent feature at the regions; there will be consequences and repercussions,” Minister Bulkan cautioned.
Dr Butts explained that the general thrust of the engagement was to create awareness in terms of how the issue of public financial management shapes the perception of functionaries based mainly on the idea of providing a high quality service in the most transparent manner.
He urged the regional officials to execute their mandates in accordance with the requirements of public accountability and to the satisfaction of their various constituencies.
Dr Butts pointed out that not only will their financial deportment come under scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) but also their attitudes, skills and knowledge base required for the task at hand.
The meetings continue on Friday when regional officials will meet with teams from the Ministries of Health and Agriculture.
Departmental and Subject Heads from the Ministry of Communities on Wednesday also presented their respective budgets to Ministers Bulkan, Valerie Adams-Patterson and Dawn Hastings-Williams.
Presentations were made by the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), the Sanitation Management Unit, the Community Infrastructural Improvement Programme (CIIP) and the Sustainable Livelihood Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) Fund.
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