Assembly approves R65m of extra spending |09 June 2010

A motion resolving the assembly to approve the supplementary estimates to regularise government expenditure for 2010 was tabled by elected member for Anse Boileau Andre Pool.

Members of the majority party approved the motion after Mr Pool had given the assembly details of how all the money will be spent.

Mr Pool said the supplementary appropriation was important to cater for unexpected spending by various government ministries and agencies.

The R65 million will be spent in four main areas – paying wages and salaries (R32,288,216), goods and services (R8,577,675), transfer to social programmes (R5,363,309) and transfer to the public sector (R18,770,800).

The Department of Public Health and the Ministry of Education have received the largest share of the money.

Extra spending of R15,713,980 has been allocated to public health, while education has received an extra R12,759,820. The money will be used for the two ministries’ new schemes of service.

A total of R2 million has been allocated to the new National Information Services Agency for staff compensation payments.
From the extra spending of R8,577,675 for ministries and departments on goods and services, R2,243,600 has been allocated to the President’s Office.
 
A total of R1,200,000 will go towards reforms being carried out at the Montagne Posée prison.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received an extra R1,200,095 to be used in setting up an embassy in the United Kingdom.

The total of R5,363,309 for the government’s social programmes has been shared between professional and consultancy fees, and exemptions from goods and services tax and trade tax.

Explaining the R18,770,800 for transfers to the public sector, Mr Pool said this will bring more efficiency in parastatal and statutory agencies such as the Seychelles Tourism Board, the Fair Trading Commission and the Seychelles Postal Services.
 
The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation has been allocated an extra R1,500,000 for its new scheme of service and recruitment programme.