…and hopes Opposition will see the merits of Budget 2014
FINANCE Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, was fired up as he delivered the final presentation in the 2014 Budget debates in the National Assembly, last night.And in one fell swoop debunked the major criticisms of the national estimates, cleverly using the Opposition Leader’s own quip, ‘Is the same old PPP/C (Peoples’ Progressive Party/Civic’, against theOpposition, with the APNU taking the brunt of the thrashing.
Singh acknowledged the remark from A Partnership for National Unity Leader, David Granger, and pointed out that there is “no shame” in being the same old PPP/C, when one considers the massive successes and national advances made under the current Administration.
He said, “It is the PPP/C that believes in and practises democracy, and in this regard, we will be the same old same old PPP/C. It is the PPP/C that has always stood with the people of Guyana; and in this regard we will be the same old PPP/C…we have nothing to be ashamed of. Our track record is something we can be proud of.”
Singh pointed out that unlike the Opposition, the ruling party did not have to change its name from the People’s National Congress (PNC) to APNU to “deceive” the Guyanese people.
“You can change name…you can change your shirt, your time….at the end of the day, it is same old PNC…for the PNC‘same old’ is something to be ashamed of because of a disgraceful and outrageous legacy and the trauma that was wrought on Guyana,” he said.
SAME OLD PNC
According to him, the House does not have far to look to see the “same old PNC” as the evidence is clear and visible.
He referenced the fact that Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge yesterday circulated copies of correspondence between him and Singh, but failed to circulate the complete correspondence.
The Finance Minister told the House that the correspondences stopped at November 18, 2013, when, as recently as January 24, 2014, the Opposition parties were invited again to consult on the national budget.
At this comment, Greenidge left the Parliament Chambers and his exit was followed by heckles of ‘Run, Carl, run’.
Singh said, “I don’t know why he (Greenidge) did not share complete sequence of correspondences…it is the ‘same old PNC’, Singh said, citing the known use of selective recollection and explanations of the reality.
The Finance Minister had also previously explained that his e-mail dated January 13, 2014, indicated Government’s invitation to meet on Budget 2014 and requested that the Opposition suggest a date.
The e-mail was also copied to AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) David Granger, Lance Carberry, Dr. Roger Luncheon, and Gail Teixeira. The e-mail also contained copies of documents to be discussed.
Further, in February 2014, there was still no response from the Parliamentary Opposition parties to government’s invitation to participate in pre-budget consultations.
MISREPRESENTATIONS
Singh went on to focus on a notable “pattern of debating” where, instead of proffering alternatives how better can be done, nothing was forthcoming from the Opposition benches, save for some instances, including APNU Member of Parliament, Karen Cummings.
He said, “For the most part, instead, we got a series of misrepresentations and even more unfortunately there was resort to insults….we see emerging now what appears to be an asymmetric entitlement to criticise. When the Opposition criticise, they are holding us accountable, irrespective of cacophony, they are holding us accountable.
“However, when we criticise, it is arrogance and cuss out…this is unfortunate.”
Singh stressed that the Opposition does not enjoy the sole right to criticise, rather they too have a responsibility to be accountable to their constituents and factual and truthful in all their representations.
He stated that APNU front-bencher, Basil Williams, made this clear on Monday night when he stated that of 182 countries, Guyana ranks fifth from the bottom on the Human Development Index.
“I was astonished and worried that I had read the wrong report….but the fact is, the 2013 Human Development Report says that of 186 countries listed, Guyana is 118. Last I checked 186 minus 118 is not five. Stop misleading the people of Guyana…stop misrepresenting the facts to the people of Guyana,” Singh stressed emphatically.
Williams rose to object to the statement and some chaos ensued before the Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman, interjected to ask that the Finance Minister continue.
Singh returned that there is a simple way to characterise this discovery of misrepresentation, “same old PNC” – a comment that evoked smirks and evident approval from his colleague MPs on the Government side.
The Finance Minister said, “The dilemma is that throughout the debate we have been regaled with such representations; and when misrepresentations were not at hand, resort was made to insults and invectives.”
INSULTS
On that note, Singh vehemently rejected the negative characterisation of the Finance Ministry’s staffers as “tired” during his presentation in the debates.
APNU MP, Joseph Harmon, had said, “My colleagues, let’s face it. Dr. Singh and his team are tired and they have produced an uninspiring Budget, so uninspiring that the Honourable Minister himself, in his presentation, seemed to have been infected by the tiredness of his team….give it up Ashni, find another job.”
The Minister noted that the reference to him is not as objectionable as the reference to “hardworking” young professionals who work in service of Guyana and the Guyanese people.
He said, “No public servant should be insulted in this manner in this House…Mr. Granger is not one to call names, but it seems that Mr. Granger has signed up for ‘Same old PNC, intimidating and insulting public servants…I condemn this.”
According to him, this crossing of boundaries and abandonment of principles by the Opposition in unleashing insults against hardworking Guyanese demonstrates their “hunger for power” and indicate what they will do, as the “same old PNC” would do.
Singh made it clear that long after he left the post of Finance Minister, the economic policies of the current Administration will remain intact.
“Long after me, the same old PPP/C will be standing…long after me they will still be on this side of the House,” he said.
SAME PROMISES
Addressing the issue of policies, the Finance Minister stated that a look at the three manifestos will reveal similar platforms and he said the government is well on its way to deliver on all of its promises.
He lamented that despite the similarities, the contention of the Opposition is that there is nothing good in the 2014 Budget.
Singh said, “If you look at their manifestos, they promised things themselves that we have delivered…we are delivering on our promises and yours…they won’t acknowledge this, why, it’s the ‘Same of PNC’.”
Regardless, he maintained that the people will not be hoodwinked by a new face, as the APNU remains the ‘same old PNC’.
The success has come, Singh said, despite the challenges, particularly with the current dispensation of the National Assembly, with the one-seat majority.
However, the minister said, government has not failed to deliver, primarily because it is a “listening and caring” Government.
On the issue of delivering on promises, Singh underscored the need for leaders, responsible leaders, to not create unrealistic expectations in the minds of the Guyanese people.
He said, “A responsible leader must not create an impression in the minds of our people that the State will solve all your problems…citizens have a responsibility…any leader who does different is creating an unrealistic expectation in the minds of his people.”
The minister reasoned that such acts can be termed irresponsible because that irresponsible leader is not the one that has to deliver on those unrealistic expectations.
He said, “Greenidge has experience with bankrupt economies, but this PPP/C Government will never bankrupt Guyana…we will never sacrifice success at the altar of political expediency.
“…responsible leadership requires us to be frank and honest with our people…the Opposition is far removed from frankness and honestly with the people.”
Singh sated that the current Administration, in vast contrast, will have the interest of the people in focus today, tomorrow and one generation from today.
RIGHT DIRECTION
The move in the right direction, he added, is the ultimate test of sound policies.
Singh said, “All of us would like to see more done more quickly and better, but to say that nothing has happened is wrong…if one were to examine the responsibility with which we have discharged our stewardship of economy and Guyana, the facts speak for themselves.”
The minister pointed to economic growth, increase in annual sector allocations, human resource development.
“This is impact,” he said, “Every indicator you look at tells the same story.”
According to him, Budget 2014 is the latest installment of the country’s advance,
“This government has demonstrated a track record of taking Guyana in the right direction,” he said.
To this end, he called for the Opposition to not stymie development by ignoring the enormous benefits of the Amaila Falls Hydropower project and putting Guyana at risk of international blacklisting by not passing the critically important Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill.
“No responsible leader would do this,” Singh said.
PARTISAN POLITICS
The Finance Minister stressed the need for MPs to put the needs and interests of the Guyanese people above partisan politics.
He said, “I hope we can rise above brandishing the scissors …I am not asking a favour, I have no apology to ask for the interest of the people….you may feel you are doing the Guyanese people a favour, but they are not asking for favours, we are servants of the people.
“…the people are saying ‘We are tired of the same old PNC’.”
According to him, Government will approach the review of the 2014 Estimates in good faith and will subject it to as intense scrutiny as the Opposition requires.
He said, “We have no problem to answer questions…we have never shied away from answering questions…we will subject estimates to ultimate degree of scrutiny and hope when this is done, the Opposition will see merit in the proposals contained and vote in favour of this year’s budget.”
The review of the 2014 Budgetary allocations begins today and the National Assembly resolves itself into the Parliamentary Committee of Supply.
By Vanessa Narine

extracted from Guyanachronicle