$24.9B Finance Ministry budget passed; FIU gets $145.1M

The $24.9B Ministry of Finance budget was today (Wednesday December 21, 2016) approved in the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly.

Justifying this allocation Finance Minister, Winston Jordan said some $145.1M has been awarded to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which he affirmed to Opposition MP, Irfaan Ali would be sufficient for the efficient functioning of the unit.

Several local agencies are also receiving subsidies and other monetary contributions from the Ministry such as the Statistical Bureau with some $433.8M and the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board with $76.6M, among others.

Additionally, $5.489M is allocated for local and international organizations.

The Appropriation Bill 2016, Bill No.24 of 2016 was also passed in the National Assembly, which has been adjourned until January 5, 2016.

Meanwhile, best wishes were extended by both sides of the House, with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo representing the Government side and MP Juan Edghill on behalf of the Opposition Leader.