Legislators plough through appropriations

(CNS): Disparity in weather forecasts, falling stamp sales, problems with farmer’s ID cards and the proposed traffic law were just some of the issues that the country’s legislative members were discussing on Wednesday as Finance Committee continued its work approving spending for the Ministry of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture. The minister revealed that the traffic law would be coming to the Legislative Assembly in September, that public works was not expecting a surge in medical waste during this financial year in relation to the proposed Dr Shetty plant, and that the dump’s current tyre shredder was not capable of turning the rubber into mulch. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)

Few details about the capping and relocation of the landfill emerged, however, when the MLAs voted $3.6 milllion for waste collection services. The increase in the cost of managing government properties from $11.4 million to $15.7 million was said to be mostly as a result of the new Government Office Accommodation building, and the increase in revenue from government to the national mail service by some $300,000 was down to a decline in stamp sales which is where the bulk of the post offices revenue comes from.

During Finance Committee all member of the assembly get to ask questions and grill ministers, chief officers and managers of various government departments about their budget allocations. It is also an opportunity for the members to raise any problems their constituents may have with government services and departments. Farmers ID cards, electrical problems at the North Side civic centre and tide forecasts by the weather services were just some of the issues members were questioning on behalf of their constituents.

In order to complete the work this week members are sitting late into the night to scrutinize the budget appropriations which are now available here.

The main document setting out government spending is also here