Gov’t, Opposition meeting on budget cordial, productive – President Ramotar
Georgetown, GINA, April 18, 2012
The scheduled meeting between the Government and the Opposition convened on a cordial and productive note, preceding the consideration of the Estimates of Expenditure in the National Assembly.
President Donald Ramotar who led the government side did not disclose much detail about the meeting except to say that there are plans to continue the engagement.
President Donald Ramotar shakes hands with Opposition leader David Granger in the presence of Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh
The meeting at the Office of the President included Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh and Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira.
The Opposition delegation comprised A Partnership For National Unity’s Leader and Opposition Leader, Mr. David Granger, and members, Mr. Rupert Roopnarine and Mr. Carl Greenidge.
Today’s meeting follows a previous one that was held last evening at the conclusion of the heated debate in the Parliament on the 2012 National Budget of $192.8B and the fulfillment of a commitment given by Minister Singh to APNU Member of Parliament Mrs. Volda Lawrence who asked whether there was willingness on the government side to meet with the representatives of APNU and the Alliance For Change to address concerns regarding the 2012 estimates to provide for its smooth passage in the House.
President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh and Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira in discussion with leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) David Granger and members Rupert Roopnarine and Carl Greenidge.
Minister Singh in an invited comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA) also recalled the assurance he gave at the last meeting of the economic sub-committee established under the inter-parliamentary party dialogue forum that government will be willing to consider any written submissions it received in relation to the budget.
At that meeting he said the government had made clear its willingness to meet with appointed representatives of the opposition parties providing that their concerns are documented in advance to aid productive discussions. No such submissions were received subsequent to that invitation.