Opposition Leader’s Office gets $27.7M; $1.85B approved for Parliament Office

A sum of more than $1.85 billion ($1,852,411,000) has been approved for the Parliament Office by the National Assembly during the consideration of the 2022 Budget Estimates on Monday.

Of that sum, $1.8 billion has been allocated for current expenditures while $50 million was allocated for capital expenditures.

Under current expenditures, a total sum of $27.7 million has been approved for the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.

The $50 million for capital spending includes: a new baggage scanner, valued at $5 million; $5 million for the Office of the Leader of the Opposition; $15 million for cameras; and $6.5 million for furniture.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira noted that the spending on cameras has been brought over from 2021; she said this project is “urgent and needed”.

For context, current expenditures refer to the spending needed for day-to-day management and operations. Capital expenditures refer to the spending on new assets that are expected to provide long term benefits.

The approval of these estimates for the constitutional body came after amendments to the Fiscal Management and Accountability (FMAA) Act were signed into law by President Dr. Irfaan Ali at the end of 2021. These amendments were touted as mechanisms to strengthen and streamline the budget process for Constitutional Agencies and simultaneously preserve the independence of those agencies.