Allocation for Local Government. includes funding for improving management, repairing infrastructure
The Minister for Finance, Ashni Singh.
Kaieteur News – The budget allocation for the Ministry of Local Government in 2021 includes funding for improving local government organ management, which includes 10 town councils and 70 Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).
Speaking at the National Assembly on Friday, the Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, for the financial irregularities committed by the previous APNU + AFC government, which was discovered after the PPP / C administration took office last August.
As a result, he said the government had taken steps to ensure that control systems were strengthened. Under the theme “Strengthening Local Government,” the Minister outlined that the sum of $ 552M was set aside in the National Budget for the project.
“Mr. Speaker, over the past five years, a flurry of financial irregularities plagued local government organs alongside weak oversight and poor management of local government systems. Our administration will put right these wrongs. Our Government has already stated our strong commitment to maintaining the legal and regulatory framework for the local administration system through the development of local organs, ”said Dr. Singh told the House.
The 2021 National Budget provides for the upgrade of the Mon Repos Market infrastructure.
To this end, he noted that the Local Democratic Organs (LDOs) will benefit from technical assistance to fulfill their constitutional roles and functions, as well as improving leadership and developing capacity for delivering quality services in all of r communities throughout the country. .
Further, the Minister said that in 2021, the LDOs were nationwide; the 70 NDCs and 10 boroughs will receive efficient services and to carry out development work for the residents within their boundaries.
In addition, the Minister announced that a sum of $ 1.1 billion is being allocated to community improvement workers to continue to enable a clean and safe environment for residents in those NDCs.
“A sum of $ 172 million will be provided for capacity building, organizational strengthening and infrastructure work for the LDOs including the re-establishment of the Parika, Charity and Mon Repos markets,” added Dr. Singh.