PNC fails to make army strength public
THE main opposition People's National Congress (PNC) yesterday failed in the National Assembly to get a public disclosure on the strength of the Guyana Police Force (GDF). Home Affairs Minister, Mr Ronald Gajraj remarked that "some people, because of the privileged position they hold, are privy to certain information...if they want to use that information for a purpose other that what it is meant, that is up to them." The PNC move came before the National Assembly passed the Appropriations Bill 2000 piloted by Finance Minister, Mr Saisnarine Kowlessar after the Public Sector 2000 Estimates were presented and approved by the House. Gajraj noted, though, that that information is in the estimates, adding that the Police Force is much short of its 1976 organisational strength but the actual numbers in any security organisation is never disclosed to the public. But PNC frontbencher, Mr Dunstan Barrow contended that there is no secret about the strength about the Police Force and the army. "Be that as it may, I think that we would be failing in our duty if we were to just come here and to sit down and give a blank cheque...based on just dollar signs and they are not associated to nothing in terms of the staffing strength," he claimed. "Whether it used to happen before, the time has come for us to change it and it needs to be changed, and we need to be told what is the strength of the Guyana Police Force," Barrow said. He said that based on the total wages and salaries of $882M for the Police Force, there should be a breakdown of the strength of the Force. But the Chairman (in Committee of Supply), Mr Derek Jagan intervened stating: "I don't think for the last couple days you were given a blank cheque under any head." "...I think more details have been given in my experience in this House for a number of years...even though the details requested are not required under the Standing Orders I permitted details to be given," Mr Jagan said. The Chairman told Barrow that if the minister does not want to answer the question the way he (Barrow) requested there is nothing further he can do. Also approved yesterday was spending for the Ministry of Home Affairs Secretariat; $9M for training for the Police Force and $33M for police vehicles, spares and service. And for the Guyana Prison Service, $72M was approved for dietary considerations for prisoners; $12M for a vessel and a truck under capital expenditure and $12M for maintenance of buildings. Gajraj also announced that a Land Rover type fire tender will be purchased for the fire department to service some new housing projects where the larger tenders may find difficulty accessing. The PNC's Ms Debra Backer questioned matters relating to training and which members will benefit, refreshments and meals, and dietary spending for the Police Force.
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