$3.3 billion cleared for GECOM to hold elections

Government Parliamentarians Thursday afternoon voted to approve $3.3 billion for the holding of general elections, but the Finance Minister Winston Jordan said the funding is not in anticipation of an imminent ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The CCJ is expected to rule shortly on the validity of the No Confidence motion of December 21.

The Opposition Parliamentarians are staying away from the sittings until the ruling.

The Finance Minister told the House that the approval of the funding for elections was made because of President David Granger’s commitment to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The passage of the December 21 No Confidence motion necessitated elections within three months, but the Government has challenged the passage of the motion.

Whatever the case, GECOM had insisted that it needed funding to keep any early elections.

The Chief Elections Commission had requested a total of $3.31 billion, but the amount was rounded to $3.3 billion by the Ministry of Finance.

The main expenses covered are: Fuel and Lubricants – $35.4 million; Rental of Buildings – $82 million; Transport, Travel and Postage – $409.5 million; Utility charges – $31.9 million; Other Good Services $616.9 million; Other Operating Expenses – $1.5 billion; Education Subventions and Training – $113.4 million.