Agriculture Minister roasts Opposition for letting greed get the better of them

By Vanessa Narine, April 23, 2014, Source

AGRICULTURE Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has flayed the parliamentary opposition parties for allowing their “hunger for power” to blind them when it comes to acting in the national interest.In a statement issued last Friday, Dr Ramsammy said: “In their hunger for power, APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) and the AFC (Alliance For Change) do not respect anyone, and they do not care who or how many people they hurt.

‘They merely want power; and the more they create chaos and under-development, the more they take delight in the misery that they cause. I call on my Guyanese brothers and sisters to stand in solidarity to condemn the reprehensible actions of APNU and AFC’

“They merely want power, and the more they create chaos and under-development, the more they take delight in the misery that they cause. I call on my Guyanese brothers and sisters to stand in solidarity to condemn the reprehensible actions of APNU and AFC.”

Last Tuesday, under the allocation for the Office of the President, the parliamentary opposition parties made cuts that include: $245M for the Presidential Guard services; $95M for the provision of developmental and humanitarian aid, among other initiatives; $10M for the Office of the First Lady; $73.5M for the Guyana Energy Agency; $119M for the Guyana Office for Investment (GoInvest); $122M for the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST); $17M for the Integrity Commission, and $28.5M for the Office of the Commissioner of Information.

There were other cuts made last Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday night’s cuts included: $18.5B for the LCDS initiatives; $450M for loans for University of Guyana students; $725M for the Poverty Alleviation programme; $7M for the different rights commissions; $795M for the Basic Needs Trust Fund, and $4M for support to non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

Friday night’s cuts included: The Specialty Hospital ($910M); upgrading of Regional and District Hospitals, including Port Kaituma, Kwakwani, Linden, Bartica, Eye Surgery Operating Room at Linden etc ($360M); ambulances, ATVs and Boats ($42M); surgical equipment and instruments ($32M); the Amerindian Development Fund ($1.1B); other Amerindian programmes, such as ATVs, tractors etc. ($40M); the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Modernization project ($6.6B); Civil Aviation ($50M); and hinterland airstrips ($185M).

DESIGNED TO HURT
Dr Ramsammy contends that the cuts were “designed to hurt the Guyanese people, and reflected a betrayal of the people.”

He said, “They intend to suffocate Guyana’s development as much as they can, and they intend to do so by directly affecting the lives of people. But I believe they disgraced themselves as representatives of the people.

‘They intend to suffocate Guyana’s development as much as they can, and they intend to do so by directly affecting the lives of people. But I believe they disgraced themselves as representatives of the people’

“Quite simply, they took great delight in voting against the interest of the people, and against our country.

“…the AFC and APNU disapproved and cut out from the National Budget allocations for some very significant development in our country, development that would benefit citizens everywhere in Guyana. The cuts targeted Guyanese in very sensitive areas, areas that would contribute to better lives for all.”

The Agriculture Minister made it clear that the current administration will maintain its firm stance on the side of the people.

“We stand for development,” he said, “and we will continue to invest in people and in the projects that make their lives better. We will seek to find ways to ensure that these programmes are implemented. We will not abandon our people.

“While the cuts represent a major barrier in our efforts to improve the lives of our people and the development of our country, the PPP/C will not be deterred in our pursuit of a better Guyana and better lives for all of our people.

“I am particularly angry at both the AFC and APNU for trying to suffocate the development of our country by abusing the mandate of Parliamentarians. They demonstrated in no uncertain terms that they do not deserve the title of Parliamentarian.

“Parliamentarians must work for people, not against people.”

According to Dr Ramsammy, in voting against development, the combined Opposition “abdicated” their responsibility to act in the interest of the people of Guyana.

“Cutting the budget, particularly programmes like hospitals and the Amerindian Fund, is not only morally wrong, but it exposes them as power-hungry politicians who do not care for the people and for our country,” he said.

HOLDING THE COUNTRY TO RANSOM
The minister contends that the budget cuts are a clear indication of levels the Opposition is willing to go in order to hold the country to ransom.

He said, “APNU, in its 2011 manifesto, spoke of hinterland development being a top priority to the party, and they claimed that ‘indigenous communities remain a disadvantaged zone’. The Amerindian Fund is a budgetary fund that responded to the recommendations of over 200 Amerindian leaders, who identified these activities at the 2013 National Toshaos’ Council meeting as important and necessary for the development of Amerindian communities and Amerindian people.

“But given a chance to demonstrate their commitment to Amerindian People’s interest, APNU and AFC chose to betray them.

“…APNU also, in its Manifesto, spoke of its commitment to support a development strategy towards indigenous development and inhabitants. I ask today: where is that commitment and generosity?

“But the people will be the judge.

“…this is barefaced and shameless pretense of caring, while ghoulishly brandishing the dreaded scissors…

“I say shame on you AFC and APNU!”

“The answers are clear for all to see: that the PPP/C has always kept the advancement of Amerindians on the front burner, not just at elections’ time. We have demonstrated our commitment throughout the years, every time and anytime, once it is in the interest of our people,” Ramsammy said.

The minister underscored the fact that cuts seen in the considerations of the 2014 Budget are “cruel and inhumane”, and exposes the AFC and APNU as “not interested” in the development of the Guyanese people, and by extension the country.

“The APNU and AFC displayed arrogance and an overt effort to derail Guyana’s development,” he said.

He stressed that the people of the nation will be the judge when the question is posed: “Was the interest of Guyana’s first people only a top priority during elections?”