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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Momodou |
Posted - 28 Jul 2021 : 14:24:50
NAMs, Do not approve even a single butut!
By Madi Jobarteh
There is absolutely no justification for this supplementary appropriation bill as the money will not change lives and livelihoods in this country, but only plunge the country into further debt and put citizens into high cost of living and deprivation. The proposed budget lines are only populist and intended to serve political purposes than any real development for the country.
For example, the Banjul road project was based on a multimillion-dalasi contract that was approved since 2 years ago. Why still continue to ask for more money for this project, especially to pay for arrears into hundreds of millions of dalasi? How could arrears develop when the Banjul and Basse road construction projects were budgeted? What period does these arrears cover? Why were there arrears in the first place?
This supplementary budget appears as if the Government never knew that it had commitments such that it would have budgeted for them adequately in the 2021 budget. But how could we get to the middle of the year only for such huge amounts of money be requested only to pay for arrears.
Similarly, where are the billions of dalasi obtained to combat COVID? If those funds were judiciously used, the Government should have been able to build brand new hospitals across the country and secure tens of ambulances. In Ghana, the Government took advantage of COVID to build a world-class infectious diseases management centre (https://www.ingsa.org/covid-19-policy-tracker/africa/ghana/30-july-2020-100-bed-ghana-infectious-disease-centre-opened/).
But thanks to the corruption and mismanagement of CIVID funds, the Gambia Government on the other hand gained nothing from the huge financial opportunities availed to it by this pandemic. Hence it is scandalous that the Government is asking for 134 million dalasi to buy 80 ambulances at this time of the year.
Funds requested for the security institutions, GRTS and vehicles for Governors are unjustifiable and irresponsible at this time of the year. The Minister of Finance cannot be lamenting about the negative impact of COVID on the world economy including ours only to still ask for more money which is not going to generate any revenue. How could buying of vehicles for Governors be an urgent matter for this country at this time? Is it for them to campaign for Pres. Barrow or add any value to rural governance and development?
The Government knew since 2020 that there will be an election in December 2021. Hence in making the 2021 budget, these institutions should have been well catered for. But the Government cannot wait until in the middle of the year and four months to that election only to come up with a supplementary appropriation bill to ask for money for something that they should have budgeted for in the 2021 budget.
Can the Minister tell us in which area of the election is the IEC going to use that money? If indeed this supplementary budget is genuine, why did it not include money for diaspora registration and voting? Secondly, as the TRRC concludes, the next major issue is implementation of its recommendations such as providing reparations to victims, conducting prosecutions and making institutional and legal reforms? Where is the money for these activities? Also, where is the money for civil service and security sector reforms? It appears these reforms which are the heart of system change are not the interest of the Government.
And why is the Gambia Government funding OIC projects by compensating people whose lands and homes will be affected by the road construction? What we know is that it is the OIC that funds its summits. Therefore, why should the Gambia Government fund any part of this summit, especially such a major funding?
This supplementary bill is unjustifiable, irresponsible and geared towards only promoting populist and political objectives. It is not coming out of any genuine and dire need to salvage this country and serve the people. Rather it is meant to plunder public wealth by targeting projects and activities which will touch the hearts of citizens. Hence the Minister of Finance has cleverly devised a strategy to steal public funds by appealing to people’s sensibilities through some human interest projects and activities.
No NAM should approve even a single butut for this bill.
For The Gambia Our Homeland
https://edgebuildings.com/project-studies/ghana-infectious-disease-center/ |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Momodou |
Posted - 30 Jul 2021 : 19:18:02
By Kexx Sanneh
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL: Non-Partisan but National interest.
I have been reading comments on social media from political commentators and observers claiming that PDOIS and other Parliamentarians are unpatriotic for supporting the Supplementary Appropriation Bill. Some went as far as accusing them of helping Barrow secretly.
But did they know the content of the supplementary appropriation Bill and for what purpose?
WHAT ARE THE CONTENTS OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL?
How about if it was supplementary for the purchase of 80 life-saving ambulances to be distributed throughout the major health centres in the country?
Would you still ask for the MPs to vote AGAINST based on partisan interest or FOR based on national interest?
How about if it was supplementary for the payment of government scholarship owed to the university? After seeing a recent strike of students of the University.
Should partisan emotions override the interest of the student's, future leaders of our country?
How about if it was supplementary for compensation of those that lands are forfeited for OIC road construction and some Government projects?
Should they vote against it and those people remain homeless and you can use that as a campaign against the Government?
How about if it was supplementary to support victims of the recent Windstorm?
Yes, they vote against it and then we blame the government to support the victims of the windstorm our fellow citizens that are homeless.
How about if it was supplementary for peacekeeping missions in Central Africa?
So they should vote against it and deny GAF to attend a peacekeeping mission in Central African which will boost the experience of our soldiers and investment will allow the GAF to uplift and enhance the welfare of its troops, address and strengthen its logistical challenges and capabilities, better equipped for future missions, and most importantly enhance the foreign currency revenue capabilities into the economy?
How about if it was supplementary for the drug law enforcement to increase their subvention and thus support their ongoing drug law enforcement activities.
How about if it was supplementary to facilitate mobility for governors within regions?
Still partisan emotions or national interest?
And Governor's will fail in the responsibilities because of lack of mobility for the operation of activities.
How about if it was supplementary to furnish the national media GRTS with state of the earth and buy more cameras for election coverage for all the political parties?
They should vote against it and then the same people will turn to say GRTS is not covering our political activities.
How about if it was supplementary for the revising courts to appoint magistrates and the training?
They should vote against it and the same people will jump from every corner to say we have a file case at the revising court but the state failed to act.
How about if it was supplementary for the country's membership arrears owed to Ecowas Bank of Investment?
They should vote against and when we lose our membership or drag us to court the very people will jump into their Facebook pages blaming the Government.
Who with his common sense will reject or vote against such a supplementary appropriation bill.
But I forgot this is the Gambia where everyone is a subject matter specialist on all subjects or bush lawyers.
PDOIS isn't in the Parliament to be opposing anything coming from the executive because we are in opposition. When it comes to Gambian people socioeconomic matters PDOIS is second to none and we will support it.
However, if wasteful spending and corruption are happening he will surely expose them.
PDOIS has been and will remain to be a unique political party whose ultimate objective and interest is that of the nation but just to oppose because we want the government to fail.
We will support anything for the development of the country and the citizens and refuse where it is necessary and criticise where we have to.
PDOIS has been consistent for the last 35 years and this is why we earned the respect of both the past and present governments. |
| Momodou |
Posted - 29 Jul 2021 : 08:59:23
By Kexx Sanneh
The National Assembly members have approved the supplementary Appropriations Bill (SAP) with an amendment amounting to 1.500,000.000.00 (One Billion, Five Hundred Million dalasis).
After 19 hours (10 am to 04:52 am) of intensive debate and scrutiny head by the head of the appropriation allocations, the members have finally authorized the minister of finance and economic affairs an additional payment from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the country for the 2021 fiscal year.
The purpose of the SAP is to provide additional public services like: National security, election-related services, infrastructure, Pandemic, and disaster-related services as well as commitments to international financial institutions.
Am off to bed #128716; #128716; #128716; |
| Momodou |
Posted - 28 Jul 2021 : 22:51:01
Source: What’s on Gambia FB
Billahi wallahi tallabi, Barrow's government is not serious. Have you guys seen Finance Minister Mambury Njie's supplementary budget?
- He wants Drug Squad officers to be given an honorarium of D3million for the seizure of the 118 bags of cocaine belonging to Banta Keita. Are these people serious?
For those of you who don't understand honorarium - the D3million is for Drug Squad officers to share among themselves. Why should we compensate them for doing their job? And guess what? Banta is still on the run? Why not take that D3million and buy dialysis consumables for our dialysis patients who are dying at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital?
- Mambury also wants to spend D12.5 million on cars for deputy governors. Please, Allah help us! What happened to the cars they bought for them less than 4 years ago? Why not use that money and buy school furniture for the thousands of primary school children who sit on the floor to learn?
- Mambury also wants to give GRTS D30million for the coverage of the presidential election. Oh my God! How many people watch GRTS? Why not use that money to help the pregnant women who are dying in our health facilities?
If you closely look at the supplementary budget, it's about procurement. Nothing else! Why? Because that's where they receive their kickbacks. Billahi wallahi tallahi, some of them will pocket millions of dalasi from the supplementary budget, while the majority of us are struggling to make ends meet.
Guys, this is not about politics. Please, let's not allow this nonsense to happen. People are suffering and Mambury wants to spend millions on cars and other useless stuff.
Gambia, say no to suffering! |
| Momodou |
Posted - 28 Jul 2021 : 22:45:26
By Kexx Sanneh
The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs tabled a supplementary Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2021 before the National Assembly for consideration and approval.
According to the Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, the main objective of the bill is to provide additional public services including national security, election-related services, infrastructure, Pandemic, and disaster-related services as well as commitments to international financial institutions.
The bill tabled is AN ACT to authorize certain additional payments from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the period 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021 enacted by the President.
The Short title may be cited as the Supplementary Appropriation Act, 2021 for an additional Expenditure of D1,767,400,000.00 out of the authorized Consolidated Revenue Fund there may be issued from the Consolidated Revenue Fund during the period 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021, ( both dates inclusive) additional sum of money amounting to D1, 767, 400,000.00 (One Billion, Seven Hundred and Sixty-seven Million Four Hundred Thousand dalasis) for the purposes specified in the Schedule to this Act.
01. Judiciary = D22, 350, 000.00
04. Independent Electoral Commission = D80, 000, 000. 00
07. Ministry of Defence = D59,375,744.00
08. Ministry of Interior = D45,000,000.00
12 Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs = D131,214,256.00
15 Centralized Services = D75,000,000.00
16 Ministry of Lands and Regional Government = D12,500,000.00
18 Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure = D1,127,960.000.00
21 Ministry of Health = D134,000,000.00
24 Ministry of Information and Communication = D30,000,000.00
27 Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology = D50,000,000.00.
TOTAL SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION = D1, 767,400,000.00
In submitting the 2021 DRAFT SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MOFEA) said it has recently finalized the first draft of the FY2021 Supplementary Estimates, detailing out the various expenditure items and how they will be funded. In line with section 153(1) of the 1997 Constitution of The Republic of The Gambia, which requires the Honorable Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs to lay before the National Assembly a Supplementary Estimate in the event a need arose for a purpose for which no amount has been appropriated by that Act?
In that regard, he respectfully submits the contents of the Supplementary Estimates and looks forward to a fruitful discussion or contributions from members on the contents of the 2021 Supplementary Estimate.
The minister went further to justifying the supplementary appropriation bill by giving a detailing breakdown of the allocations and also informs the members that revenue of SAP is coming from the 1.5 billion revenue generated from the payment about the execution of a termination clause in the contract signed between the government of the Gambia and British Petroleum.
Below is the detailed breakdown of the SAP.
1. Judiciary = D22,350,000.00 is allocated in the supplementary in which D15,000,000.00 will go into the establishment of the revising courts whist 7,350,000.00 for the establishment of the revising courts (induction and training of magistrates, renovation or provincial makeshift courts, logistics court operation).
2. Independent Electoral Commission = D80, 000.000.00 which will go into the application software system and licenses (shortfall for the voter registration software application).
3. Ministry of Interior = D45, 000,000.00 allocated and D3 million honorarium for DLEAG personal on the recent seizures. Also, their monthly subvention was increased from D9 million to D12.5million to further motivate the staff. The increment will result in an additional D45 million.
4. Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs = D131,214,256.00 in which D51,000,000.00 is for the payment of arrears owned to the ECOWAS Bank of investment (EBID) as a contribution to international Organization and the D80,214,256.00 goes to the payment of arrears owed to the IsDB on equity participation.
5. Centralized Services = D209, 374, 962.10 for contingency security operation for the rest of the year by police, immigration, DLEAG, and GAF. In addition, we are also factoring contingency funds for Disaster Management.
6. Ministry of Lands and Regional Government = D12,500,000.00 for purchase of vehicles for deputy Governors
7. Ministry of Works, transports, and infrastructure are = D1, 127,960,000.00 in which D25, 000,000.00 for a subvention to the non-financial public institution (Bailout of GCCA to cover some of their operations). See the rest of the allocation of Ministry of Works in the development expenditure.
8. Ministry of Health = D134, 000,000.00 for vehicles (purchase of 70 life support Ambulance to be distributed across all the major health centers).
9. Ministry of Information and Communication = D30, 000,000.00 for a subvention to the non-financial public institution (GRTS Coverage of the presidential election).
10. Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology = D50, 000,000.00 for a subvention to the non-financial public (Government scholarship arrears owned to the university of The Gambia).
TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE IS = D726, 939, 218.10.
DEVELOPMENT EXPENDITURE
1. Ministry of Defence = D59, 375, 744.00 for Military equipment (Peace Keeping Equipment $1.16million for the army Central African Republic).
2. Ministry of Transports works, and Infrastructure = D12, 500,000.00 purchase of vehicles for Governors.
3. Ministry of Transports, works and Infrastructure = D176, 393,995.23 roads & Bridges (Arrears owed to the contractor for the construction of the Basse ¬ Yorabowal and the Kaleng¬Bushtown road).
4. Ministry of Transports works, and infrastructure = D112, 609,755.65 road & Bridges (Arrears owed to the construction of toll facilities at the Senegambia bridge).
5. Ministry of Transports, works and infrastructure = D200, 000, 000.00 Land compensation under the Bertil Harding highway OIC Project.
6. Ministry of Transports, works and Infrastructure =D212, 181,287.02 for road construction (Arrears owed to the contractor on the Banjul Rehabilitation Project.
TOTAL DEVELOPMENT= 773;060781.90
REVENUE
1. Ministry of Petroleum and energy =D1, 500, 000,000.00 (Penalty charges incurred by BP for withdrawing their license.
TOTAL=D1,500, 000, 000.00.
The debate is on from the members to either reject or approve the supplementary Appropriation Bill to authorize the minister for Finance and Economic to withdraw of additional payments from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. |
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