CABINET expects a constructive engagement appropriate to the seriousness that surrounds parliamentary consideration of a national budget, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, said yesterday at his weekly post-Cabinet press conference, held at the Office of the President. Dr Luncheon said the media continues to be bombarded with disclosures and releases about the process of budget formulation. “The fact that consultations were promised is indisputable. The fact that the promised consultations were held is equally indisputable. The reported tenure of those engagements with target groups and stakeholders reflected the seriousness that participants brought to the process of consultations.

“Flowing from those beginnings, there can only be a better understanding of the mutual interest of the various stakeholders -- private sector, organized labour, and the Guyanese public, taxpayers at large,” Dr Luncheon said.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh has named March 25 as Budget Day for 2013. On this day, Singh will present his seventh consecutive national budget, having first presented one in 2007 after his appointment as the PPP/C’s Finance Minister in September 2006.

According to the minister, government’s focus will remain on accelerating economic growth and social development, with continued emphasis on macroeconomic stability and preserving the conditions that are conducive to attracting investment, expanding and upgrading physical infrastructure, expanding access and improving quality of social services, and strengthening the institutional and regulatory environment.
He further informed that Budget 2013 will reflect the PPP/C’s overriding concern with making steady improvements in the standard of living enjoyed by every citizen of Guyana, and with creating and expanding opportunities for personal development and betterment.

“The steady growth that has been achieved in our economy and the marked improvement in key social indicators across our country must not be taken for granted. They were achieved as a result of deliberate policy positions taken by this government, and sustained effort at implementing responsible policies over the years, including making hard choices where these were needed.
“Our government will not divert from our policy focus on further improving the circumstances of the people of our country, and further strengthening the performance of our economy,” Singh stated.