| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Momodou |
Posted - 19 Nov 2014 : 10:15:15
Minister Presents Supplementary 2014 Appropriation Bill Over 1 Billion Dalasis Spent
By Muhammad Bah & Abdoulie G. Dibba
Foroyaa: Published on November 18, 2014
The Minister of the Interior, Hon. Ousman Sonko Monday in Banjul presented a bill entitled: “Supplementary Appropriation Bill for 2014 Budget” to Lawmakers.
The bill amounted to D1, 134,690,48.00 (one billion, one hundred and thirty four million, six hundred and ninety thousand and forty-eight dalasis).
The Interior Minister told lawmakers that these are emerging expenses and requires government to provide additional funds to meet a statutory payment obligation. He said this is presented for consideration by parliament. He pointed out that the financing of the supplementary expenditure would be through domestic borrowing.
Presenting the bill on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr. Kebba S. Touray, Sonko said the objective of the government’s macroeconomic program is to ensure that the macro economy is stable in the medium term. He added that the 2014 budget focuses on fiscal prudence aimed at minimizing the growing deficit being financed by costly domestic borrowing.
Hon Sonko said the budget is anchored on containing the Net Domestic Borrowing (NDB) to 2.5% GDP which he said is equal to D933,475,00 (Nine Hundred and thirty-three million, four hundred and seventy-five thousand) Gambian dalasis in 2014.
He said the objective behind this policy is to contain inflation, stabilize the dalasi and increase domestic savings for program financing.
He informed lawmakers that the government’s total revenue and grant is estimated at 8.6 billion in 2014, 22.9 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
Minister Sonko opined that the revenue performance is good but is outpaced by extra-budgetary expenditures. He said in the course of the 2014 fiscal year 2014, there were unexpected expenditures which required government’s spending.
He cited the Ebola outbreak in neighboring countries where government is forced to provide funds to prevent Ebola from coming into the Gambia.
The Minister noted that the government contributes annually to international organizations to enable it’s participation in such programmes and the feeding of the foreign missions increased due to the depreciation of the dalasis against hard currencies which were both unexpected expenditures.
The minister outlined the Mandinaba –Soma and Brikama-Dimabaya road projects which he said incur expenditures and government funding in those roads was substantial. He said the government approved the installation of the pump house in Banjul to be able to drain any potential flooding.
On his final note, the Minster briefed the National Assembly Members on the government’s development projects, some of which are supported by partners such as the Old Police Line refurbishment work in Banjul, rehabilitation of the national independence stadium in Bakau, Banjul International Airport Rehabilitation Project and the schools improvement grant project which he claimed were all part of the expenditures made.
Source: Foroyaa |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Momodou |
Posted - 20 Nov 2014 : 09:48:01
font size= 4 THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT THEIR PALIAMENTARIANS APPROVED 135 MILLION ON TRAVEL EXPENSES /font id= size4
Foroyaa: Published on November 19, 2014
The Parliamentarians did not only approve the allocation of 86 Million Dalasi from the National budget to finance National celebrations, they also approved the allocation of 136 Million Dalasi for travel expenses such as the salaries of crew, insurance cover and air ticket for the Office of the President which received the lion share of the supplementary budget with an allocation amounting to 459 Million Dalasi.
It is very clear that what has been approved just for additional travel expenses of the Office of the President is more than the sum allocated to many Ministries .
According to the Budget Appropriation Report for 2014, the following allocations were made
National Assembly 63, 126,718
Judiciary 64,896,994
Independent Electoral Commission 9,218,640
Public Service Commission 4,994,079
National Audit office 21,353,843
Ministry of Tourism and Culture 18,501,822
Ministry of Justice 46,308.958
Pensions and Gratuities 98,342,649
Ombudsman 18,311,180
Miscellaneous 50,420,000
Ministry of Lands & Reg. Government 45,879,340
Ministry of Trade.Regional integration and Employment 67,981,727
Ministry of Youth & Sports 36,259,340
Ministry of Environment Parks and Wildlife 31,065,629
Ministry of information, Communication infrastructure 20,211,598
Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resource 37,254,997
Ministry of Energy 19,759,460
Ministry of Petroleum 11,648,410
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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 19 Nov 2014 : 21:18:25
It really is about time that VERY MANY GAMBIANS realised that the GIVE ME,GIVE ME days are over for Gambia and very many other African countries is now over.
COUNTRIES WHO PLOUGH MILLIONS OF POUNDS, DOLLARS, AND OTHER HARD CURRENCIES INTO AFRICA SHOULD EVALUATE THE USE OF THIS MONEY,and ask the question of,
POVERTY STRICKEN AFRICAN POPULATIONS,HOW HAS THIS AID MONEY BENEFITED ME AND MY FAMILY ?
I know the answer to that it's .................... |
| Momodou |
Posted - 19 Nov 2014 : 10:57:04
 Sidi Sanneh: Tuesday, November 18, 2014 Reckless handling of the Gambian economy |
| Momodou |
Posted - 19 Nov 2014 : 10:43:28
OVER ONE BILLION ADDED TO A 10.2 BILLION BUDGET Over 86 Million Dalasis For National Celebrations
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on November 18, 2014
The total budget of a number of Ministries have not reached 86.37 Million dalasis which is the sum approved by the National Assembly members to finance National celebrations from the funds of the tax payers.
The people have recently been informed that the issuance of short term treasury bills have increased significantly to finance government fiscal operations. The budget deficit for 2013 amounts to 2.7 billion dalasis and the outstanding domestic debt stood at 13.5 Billion.
Hence the introduction of a supplementary Appropriation Bill amounting to D1,134,690,48.00 (one billion, one hundred and thirty four million, six hundred and ninety thousand and fouty-eight dalasis) does not only manifest financial indiscipline which will have far reaching effect on domestic borrowing, but raises serious constitutional questions which needs to be addressed by the citizenry and their representatives.
What raised eye brows is the allocation of 86 Miilion Dalasis for National celebrations. The height of financial indiscipline is to borrow and spend on celebrations. A national debate on how tax payers’ money is spent is urgent .University and Senior Secondary School Students are waiting for sponsorship and youths are waiting for employment, the employed are waiting for salary increase and pensioners are waiting to receive their entitlements. These are no times for celebrations.
Source: Foroyaa |
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