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The National
Assembly voted in favour of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2002 to
approve the supplementary spending of 54,965,164 in 2001.
The Bill received
the approval of all members from the Seychelles People's Progressive
Front (SPPF) party, while all members from the Seychelles National Party
(SNP) abstained.
When he was
presenting the Bill, Vice-President James Michel, in his capacity as the
Minister for Finance, said that the unforeseen spending during the
fiscal year of 2001 was done mainly to cover expenses in the form of
advance payment for housing projects, which used up to R28,130,000 to
cover general purpose loans for workers in the government which amounted
to R1,400,000. An additional sum of R5,500,00 was used to cover the
foreign exchange deposits of the government. Unforeseen spending was
also made by the Electoral Commissioner's office and Family Tribunal.
Government
ministries and departments accounted for R17,510,000 of the
supplementary spending with R4,380,544, for the Ministry of Education
and Youth, R4, 816,000 to cater for the scheme of service of the police
and disciplinary authority and R2,549,000 went to the Local Government,
Sports and Culture, R1, 400,000 went to the Ministry of Environment.
R300,000 was also spent in the scheme
of service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, R960,000
went to the Ministry of Tourism and Transport which needed additional
funding for the secretariat of the IOTO, the Tourism Week, the Subios
Underwater Festival, the World Tourism Organisation Conference and
injected in the Eco-Tourism project. R500,000 was used by the Ministry
of Social Affairs and Employment for the purchasing of a new fishing
boat for the Prison Division.
A total of
R6,625,000 was also used to cover public debt of loans borrowed by the
government between 1980 and 1985 on behalf of the Development Bank of
Seychelles, Civil Aviation, SMB Fish and the Indian Ocean Tuna.
R2,510,00 was also
spent under Centralised Payments, with R1,160,000 spent in the early
Presidential Election and funding.
R500,000 was also
spent as contribution to the political parties during the Presidential
Election last year.
The presentation of
the Supplementary Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly is
required by law after the supplementary spending had been verified and
certified by the Auditor General.
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