Budget to focus on poverty reduction strategy
--- expected by mid-March
By Chamanlall Naipaul
Guyana Chronicle
February 28, 2004
THE Poverty Reduction Strategy will be a focus of the national budget this year, which is likely to be presented during the second week of next month.
This was disclosed by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly press briefing yesterday.
"The Poverty Reduction Strategy will again move into the highlight of national life at this time in 2004. You might recall that a Poverty Strategy Reduction Paper (PRSP) that was completed set out national goals for creating economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction. The occasion of the presentation of the 2004 budget identified by the Minister of Finance as being mid-March is seen by the PRSP activists as an opportunity to again highlight for all the stakeholders the way in which the Strategy is being implemented," Dr. Luncheon informed the media.
He explained that since the budget provides the funding for activities the budget presentation is an important opportunity to examine policies and at the community level the adherence and compliance with priorities.
In addition, Dr. Luncheon said the annual progress report of the Strategy for last year is now being compiled and would become the basis for additional consultation.
The compilation should be concluded by the end of next month, by which time the central mechanisms and regional committees should be in place to monitor the ongoing implementation of the PRSP.
In this regard, the HPS said three major county conferences during next month as well as consultations targeting targeting specific groups and provide them with an opportunity to examine the implementation of the PRSP and to give comments on the way its goals are being met.