Budget caters for development of regional and local administrations -Bulkan

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan rose on the third day of the 2017 Budget Debate and like the rest of his government colleagues, he offered support of the budget.

“This budget is the best of the three budgets so far, it is transformative in nature and structure, the progressive tax rate it introduces, puts more money in people’s pockets” he declared.

He stressed that in the “final analysis” it will be the people of Guyana who will pronounce judgement on the budget.

The Minister maintained that a “transformation” is taking place, and “it is taking place in other areas as well”.

He pointed to changes in governance architecture, and highlighted that the constitution provides for three pillars of government; Central, Local and Regional, and as such, the budget has provided for the strengthening of these three critical pillars to facilitate development and growth of the nation.

Minister Bulkan revealed that strengthening Regional procurement processes is of utmost importance in 2017 as the Ministry seeks to create Regional Procurement Units and the training of persons to maintain and run the units efficiently.

Emphasis will also be placed on strengthening regional development throughout Guyana, Minister Bulkan noted, while the coordination of local democratic organs, strengthening of local government will also be of importance.

The Ministry will be pursuing several paths to achieve this and will include partnership with the Finance Ministry as they seek to improve and enhance the revenue base of the local government organs.

He told the Assembly that budget 2017 offers more financial support for the administrative regions and the regions are being encouraged to ensure all of their capital works are completed within the budget year.