AFC prepared to let nation suffer if it does not get its way - Mustapha
Written by, Monday, 20 May 2013 22:11,Source
THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) will continue to fight against this attempt to destroy the economic livelihood of our people.
PPP/C officials, from left, are Mr. Irfaan Ali, Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha, Mr. Juan Edghill and Mr. Kellawan Lall at yesterday’s press conference at Freedom House
This is according to its Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha, who yesterday told reporters the party is deeply concerned at the anti-nationalistic stance by the Alliance For Change (AFC) “which has clearly indicated that it is prepared to let the entire nation suffer, if it does not get its way.”
This, he said, is the reality with “even their staunchest of supporters” now coming to grips with it based on that party’s latest position on the amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism bill.
“We have heard both the AFC and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) indicating how important this amendment is in their decision to send it to a special select committee, what we have not heard from them are any tangible suggestions on what they would like to have included in this amendment.”
Mustapha said this position by the combined Opposition confirms what the ruling party has been outlining all along and that the only aim of the Opposition is to stall the bill past the deadline so that the nation can be blacklisted internationally and “our people, particularly the business sector, suffer.”
Referring to the Opposition’s position as a plan of destabilising the country, Mustapha said the AFC/APNU combined is attempting to weaken the economy.
He called it a “diabolical plot, more so since our nation has been experiencing unprecedented economic growth for the past seven years and this is projected to increase.”
The PPP/C official drew reference to a recent report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that projects Guyana to record the 2nd highest economic growth rate for 2014 in South America.
“Their dramatic budget cut of over $30B or some 27 per cent of our 2013 national budget is a clear example of their agenda to stall economic growth,” Mustapha said.
He asked: “Who suffers if our economy begins to shrink? Who suffers if our businesses begin to downsize or close up all-together? Who suffers if our revenue base begins to decrease and Government cannot afford to pay wages and salary increases or even maintain current increases?
Who suffers if Government cannot maintain its massive social sector programmes in health, education, water, housing and pension? Who suffers if Government cannot afford to assist farmers and construct critical infrastructure?
According to Mustapha, it is ultimately the populace that will suffer and “it will not matter who they voted for or who they support or what they look like.”
He said that “It is this bleak future that the PPP is fighting relentlessly to stave off and the time has come for us, in a united voice, to let the Opposition know that they should put the interest of the nation and our people first rather than any narrow political agenda.”
