March 29, 2024

Finance minister clarifies Gambia’s Covid-19 available money

0

As lawmakers approve 45 days emergency extension

By MOMODOU JARJU

Amid heated debate on the extension of state of public emergency and rumored funds The Gambia benefits from world donor, the minister of finance has appeared before lawmakers in Banjul to clarify the money their Government has in the fight against Covid-19.

Mamburry Njie explained that the total committed fund is D512 million, which includes the D500 million announced by President Adama Barrow circulating in town and another D12 Million which has already been disbursed to the health ministry.

“The entire D500 million, I said is for health and the committee will be looking at how we do the disbursement. Is demand driven, there is a below the line account. Right now, before the D500 million, we have disbursed as the minister (of health) said, D12 million in total. They have only spent D11 million,” Minister Njie said.

Njie however, emphasized that the D500 million is not a spending spree.

On the rumored $10 million World Bank approved for the country, Mr. Njie said the said money is equivalent to D590 million and he had signed the money last Friday. He explained that the money is not going to them but rather the World Bank will be working closely with the country’s health team to make sure all the procurement and everything that is agreed upon is properly executed.

“But up to today, there is no single money coming from any donor. We do have access to facilities at the IMF, but we are not using it now. The initial quota we have is about US$21 million, that they will give us for five years interest free and everything that will help us at least cushions the exogenous shocks,” he said.

Minister Njie said there is a request from the health ministry of D60 Million for the payment of hotels and some impresses for some regional health teams.

“That is D100, 000 for each of them and we are also making sure that all the procurement, internal auditing, verification, everything is done. As at now, they have not even touched the D500 million,” he added.

Commenting on the compensation packages for the vulnerable during this trying time, Minister Njie outlined the statistics and thought-plan they have had.

“In the event we need to give any compensation package to the vulnerable, out of the total Gambian households 280, 659, we said if you have to do everything rice, oil and D1000 for each household, it will cost us D800 million, if we do 50 percent of the household, it will cost us D400 million. If we do 40 percent, is D320 million and if we do 30 percent, it will cost us D240 million”.

Mr. Njie also said they would probably be coming to assembly later for contingency fund bill but for now, they appeal for time to be given to them because they are managing with the limited resources they have.

He added that despite the emergency and sentiments they’re still sensitive to ensure they adhere to the fiscal discipline more than ever.

“I don’t want to come for supplementary. So I thought that the national assembly should applaud the ministry of finance because I don’t want to burst the D21 billion that you gave me. We are still managing within that,” he said.

According to him, they want to contain the inflation and the fiscal deficit, warning that The Gambia is a small vulnerable economy and whatever they do they ensure fiscal discipline is adhered to. Otherwise, he said, if they have any dislocation everything will crumble.

Njie indicated that the projected growth rate as of last Friday was about 2.5 percent as opposed to the projected 3.6 few weeks back. He said this means they adjust more and tighten their belts.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers have approved 45 days state of public emergency as opposed to the 90 days the government proposed. The 45 days was recommended by the national assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights and Constitutional Matters.

The 90 days motion moved by Justice Minister and Attorney General, Abubacarr Tambadou last Thursday was deferred to the aforesaid Committee for scrutiny.

But during the debate on Friday, dozens of lawmakers disagree to the motion and even that of the 45 days recommended by the Standing Committee.

There were suggestions of 30 days, 7 days and Jokadu lawmaker Salifu Jawo even went further to urged his colleagues to discard the motion because it does not provide compensation mechanisms for the weak and the vulnerable.

According to Jawo, the government is not taking the responsibility of feeding its citizens because that is not stated in the recommendation that during the emergency they are going to take care of the citizens.

Upper Saloum lawmaker, Alagie Mbow, and Wuli West lawmaker, Sedia Jatta, both argued that the Committee did not outline the bases for their 45 days recommendation and as such they are not convinced that the days proposed will address the plights of the people.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.