Young Demands Staff Numbers Behind $6.5 Million URP Salary Allocation

Young challenged the response, asking whether the Minister knew how many employees were involved and insisting that he wanted the information immediately rather than through subsequent correspondence. “Tell us now, please,” Young said. However, Ameen maintained that the figures would be submitted in writing, leaving the exact number of employees unanswered during the exchange. The Minister has separately explained that public servants are temporarily being paid under the URP budget heading while they are absorbed into technical sections, regional corporations and other areas of the Ministry. She said those salary expenses would eventually be removed from the URP heading as the programme is wound down. The exchange has raised questions about the administration of funds remaining under the discontinued programme, particularly how many employees are covered by the $6.5 million allocation and when their reassignment will be completed. Importantly, the allocation does not, by itself, establish that the Government is continuing the URP’s former employment operations. The Minister’s explanation is that the money covers existing public servants whose salaries have not yet been transferred to other budget headings. Nevertheless, the exact number of employees being funded remained unanswered during the parliamentary exchange, with the Minister undertaking to provide that information in writing.