Finance Minister evades questions on budget, fibre optic cable project

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh avoided answering questions directly on the completion of the nation’s budget for 2015 and the controversial fibre optic cable project. At his most recent press conference, Kaieteur News asked Dr. Singh about the status of the budget and to provide an indication on when it is likely in his estimation to be laid. He said that the Ministry of Finance is of course guided by the Constitution which articulates the deadline for the presentation of the budget. Dr. Singh added that his Ministry will continue to work within the boundaries of the Constitution, meaning that, one would be laid once called to be so done within that deadline. “As you know, the Parliament is currently prorogued and our timeline will be determined by how we evolve in relation to prorogation and resumption. I would not wish to be preemptive. I will be guided by whatever decisions are made and whatever announcements are made after that,” the Finance Minister stated. Pressed again for what percentage of the nation’s budget is completed, he retorted, “Were I to say that, I rather suspect I would be disclosing my own thoughts in relation to the Parliament and I would hesitate to disclose those, but suffice it to say the work continues.” The Minister was also asked to comment on how much of taxpayers’ hard-earned monies have been expended on the Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable, if government is close to securing a contractor for the completion of the project, and the status of the 90,000 laptops which were supposed to have been distributed to poor families. He was reminded that even that initiative was cited by the country’s auditor general to be plagued by a number of improprieties. But Dr. Singh told Kaieteur News that while he admires its faith in his ability to retain information, “I don’t walk around with all the answers to questions in my head…I’m not in a position to answer in a detailed and informed manner on that question.” Prior to the Minister’s press conference, Kaieteur News had released a detailed article on how former President Bharrat Jagdeo invested $20B from the treasury in a scheme (a three part Information Technology programme ) designed to gain control of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector for himself, his party, family and friends. Since then, there have been scathing criticisms from members of the political opposition and even chartered accountants that government had wasted millions of taxpayers’ dollars and even indebted the nation until 2032 with nothing to show for it. Chartered Accountant and Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran had chronicled the collapse and the financial improprieties surrounding government’s information communication technology programme.