By Sue-AnnWayow
ATTORNEY General Faris Al-Rawi declared in Parliament his interest as to relates to government rental agreements.
He made the declaration on Friday, during the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) which was held to approve budgetary variations for the various departments and ministries.
The Personnel Department under the Ministry of Public Administration requested an increase of $8,640, 671 which was granted after a division vote was conducted – a request which was made by the Opposition.
Total number of members voting for was 31, no member voted against and there were no abstentions.
Before he voted Al-Rawi said, “I wish to declare an interest and say yes.”
While the voting continued on the Opposition side, Member for Caroni Central Arnold Ram giving a jab at Al-Rawi stated before he voted, “No interest, yes.”
Al-Rawi has been dubbed “Al-Recusal” by the Opposition for the many times he had recused himself from Cabinet due to interest in the rental matters that were being dealt with at the time.
Minister of Public Administration Allyson West in her opening statement said, “ The allocation finally agreed in the budget fell short of that and so the approval being requested to address that shortfall.”
She said adjustments included were made for rental or accommodation, other contracted services which largely had to do with a review of the Government’s health plan, a licensing fee that was paid out as well as job evaluations for the public service.
Focusing on rent she said, “The adjustment that was made with rent to start with, the allocation that was requested by the CPO in request to rent was $7.6 million. The allocation received was $7 million so an under allocation of $600,000, but because the overall allocation included and under allocation in respect to salaries and wages, there was a transfer during the course of the year from rental accommodation and other expenses to ensure that we pay public servants on time.”
This resulted in a shortfall for rent at the end of the year in excess of $600,000 resulting in just over $2 million.
