A total of $600M has been approved by the National Assembly for the implementation of the 10th Cycle of the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), which is a joint developmental programme funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Guyana Government.
For 2023, the programme will see the construction of schools, the rehabilitation of community roads, and the installation of water supply systems at Nappi, Warawatta, Kaiako, Kurukubaru and Surama.
Additionally, a number of livelihood enhancement projects are to be executed along with skills training.
At the level of the Committee of Supply, Opposition Member of Parliament, Volda Lawrence called on the Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh to provide greater detail about some of the projects under the initiative.
The Finance Minister explained that the Trust Fund, which is administered by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), has been doing excellent work in supporting community level social infrastructure.
He said, this year, the programme will continue to offer much needed support, particularly in small and remote communities.
“The BNTF will be financing in 2023 investments in education, education infrastructure, in particular construction of primary, nursery, special education schools, very modest. These are very small school buildings, typically in very small, often times, remote communities. The BNTF has also been supporting the construction of early childhood development centers…we also do some small community roads under BNTF, we also do some modest water projects, in particular, with strong emphasis on hinterland,” the Finance Minister explained.
It was noted that the projects to be executed were identified in consultation with the communities that are in line to benefit. The CDB is also required to grant its no objection.
In 2022, just over $1 billion was injected into the Trust Fund, while in 2021 it received approximately $661.3M.
Meanwhile, the Committee of Supply also approved $50M for the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN).
Asked by Opposition MP Juretha Fernandes for a status report on LEN’s Board of Directors, the Finance Minister told the Committee that the Board is still to be appointed.
“I am happy to inform the Honourable Member that…the appointment is pending and the Honourable Member will be no doubt be very pleased to know that this matter is engaging active and urgent attention,” the Finance Minister said.
But MP Fernandes appeared unimpressed, telling the Committee of Supply that the Finance Minister had offered a similar response, when he was called upon to provide a status report in 2022 during the consideration of the National Budget Estimates.
MP Fernandes reasoned that though $50M was allocated to the local financial institution both in 2022 and 2023, Lindeners are not likely to benefit in the absence of a Board.
In response, Minister Singh maintained his position, telling the Committee that the Government recognises the need for a Board to be appointed, and the matter remains under consideration.
He said though there is no Board in place, the organisation’s management and staff structure are unaffected.
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