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amjattan takes aim at ‘parallel treasuries’

Posted By Staff Writer On April 9, 2014 @ 5:24 am In Local News | No Comments

AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan has put the Donald Ramotar administration on notice that the opposition will put a halt to “parallel treasuries” built with billions being placed in accounts belonging to certain statutory agencies instead of the Consolidated Fund.

“We must not have parallel treasuries in Guyana. Not from the year 2014. It must stop and when the opposition is going to make the point that it should be halted please— members of the government side listen up—don’t go and say that we are chopping the budget when we know

that you are chopping it ten times more,” Ramjattan yesterday told the National Assembly as he opened the last day of budget debates before a week of considerations of the estimates begins.

AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan making a point yesterday during his contribution to this year’s budget debate.

AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan making a point yesterday during his contribution to this year’s budget debate.

Ramjattan said that this year’s budget could have been “far superior” if the views of the opposition, which are known by the government, had been incorporated. He said that since last year, during tripartite talks, the opposition had indicated to the government a number of things that were being sought.

He said while it is the responsibility of the government to prepare the budget, once there is a majority on the opposition side, it is “incumbent on a government that would like to see things happen that there be what is called inclusiveness on the part of the government on opposition views.”

He said that in a minority government, there must be “multi-party governance by necessity,” while adding that the opposition groups want their points to be given consideration and to be deliberated upon.

Ramjattan also said that it must be appreciated that even if the opposition is going to “use its scissors,” one must understand and appreciate that hatchets and shears were already being used prior to the opposition gaining a majority in the National Assembly.  He explained that cuts were made because the proceeds from all revenue streams were not going into the Consolidated Fund so that the opposition can have a fair grasp of how much revenues exist so that “we can disburse and expend.” He argued that the total revenue was never accurately represented in the budget.

According to Ramjattan, monies are being siphoned off into second accounts that belong to certain statutory agencies. He cited the Guyana Forestry Commission, saying that as outlined in the budget, its balance as of December 31 last totalled some $1,034,000, 000. “That was never put in the Consolidated Fund,” he stressed before going on to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, which had a balance at the end of 2013 of $12,625,000,000. He also mentioned Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, the Central Housing and Planning Authority, the Lotto Funds and the National Industrial & Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL).  “These bodies have government’s monies—what is called public monies under the constitution and the financial management and accountability act. That alone totals some $27.7 billion. That is not there,” he noted.

 

Bypass mechanism

 

He added that there are a number of agencies that have bank balances that have not been put into the Consolidated Fund although the Auditor General makes it clear that those sums ought to be put there.

He said that unless all the monies are put into the Consolidated Fund, “we will not have a true representation of the state of our finances.” He added that Cabinet knows of the billions of public funds that are being siphoned and made the point that this is a huge flaw in this year’s budget as there is no true depiction of the state of these funds.

This year’s budget, he added, will have a deficit in the vicinity of some $32 billion. He said that there could have been a balanced budget but “no says the Finance Minister. No says the Cabinet….”

Ramjattan further said that recognised academics, such as former Auditor General Dr Anand Goolsarran, remarked that we have a “parallel treasury” in the form of these sums of money. The failure to channel these funds into the Consolidated Fund, as is required by the constitution, is wrong, he argued, while noting that the funds are being used for projects without parliamentary approval, such as the construction of the Marriott Hotel. “Every major capital project in this country which is going to utilise public monies must have the National Assembly’s approval,” he stressed, while noting that a lot of money had gone to project like the Marriott without the approval of the National Assembly.

“When you are going to do bypass mechanisms like these, we are going to anger your legally-elected representatives of the National Assembly. That is then going to cause a vexation of the spirit…,” he said to loud applause, before adding that it is “like a con game on the housewife with that kind of deceptive husband.”

Ramjattan said that there are other revenue streams that are being denied the budgetary process.

He cited billions in exemptions and tax concessions that are granted to certain investors and he noted that many of these are not rational. “It must come to an end because our Constitution says that all monies must go into the Consolidated Fund,” he declared, while adding that the Constitution is supreme but “when it comes to the finances it could be scattered about for them to spend as they want.”

He said that the billions that are not being put into the Consolidated Fund is what is responsible for the denial of a rightful due to citizens, including senior citizens who still cannot get a desired $15,000 old age pension.

 

High migration level

 

According to Ramjattan, the government talked a lot about how the nation has developed when compared with the past. However, he said that the point must be made that a lot of Guyanese are migrating and the level is so high that “government don’t want to bring out the census report as to what really our population is.”

Ramjattan told the House that about 1,000 persons per month are leaving Guyana, taking with them the skilled labour force. He said that the census will also reveal the poverty level of Guyanese.

His comments were met with shouts and heckles from the government side. “You see how he is jumping like a kangaroo already,” Ramjattan shouted above the heckling of the government MPs. This caused the Speaker Raphael Trotman to caution Ramjattan to “stay to his speech.”

Ramjattan continued speaking about migration and pointed out that “we are not getting the true picture” and he added that given the fact that our migration rate is the highest in the Caribbean.

He said it would seem as if the country is just manufacturing skills for other countries. We are outsourcing our greatest asset, that is our “human resources,” he said, and he reasoned that this is why many industries, including sugar, are in the state that they are in at present.

In relation to the sugar industry, Ramjattan said that “it is important that we ensure that that sector succeeds but it must not succeed with bail out every year.” He called for the board to be replaced. “You can’t go now and give good money to the same managers and board members,” he stressed, adding that while the mechanisation of the industry is a good move it will cause displacement of many workers. He said that among the focuses should be getting the skills back into the industry.

“I would forewarn that side of the house that our sugar industry, which is so important to all of us, must be managed better,” he said, adding that there would be lots of profit but with good management.

Ramjattan also stressed the need for the operationalising of the Public Procurement Commission to deal with the high incidence of corruption that exists.


Article printed from Stabroek News: http://www.stabroeknews.com

URL to article: http://www.stabroeknews.com/20...parallel-treasuries/

 

 

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‘Pet’ projects trickery used to bleed national purse – AFC

APRIL 9, 2014 | BY  | FILED UNDER NEWS 

-Finance Minister must adjust budget or face non-approval

With hours left before the National Assembly starts considerations of the 2014 National Budget estimates, the Alliance For Change (AFC) has warned that Government will be at fault for its non-approval.
In a strongly worded statement, the smaller of two Opposition factions in the House also accused the Government side of using trickery to bleed the national purse for ‘pet’ projects.
But there was also a hint that there is still a chance for negotiation.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh

Finance Minister,
Dr. Ashni Singh

“The Alliance For Change has appealed to the government, even at this 25th hour, to come to the negotiating table on the 2014 National Budget before the detailed examination of the estimates in the Committee of Supply begins.”
The party, which has seven of the 33 seats of the Opposition-controlled house, claimed that the Government, though fully aware that the AFC would not give its support for a few of these “pet projects and ‘rag-tag’ ventures” that serve only to enrich the PPP and its cronies, has sought to lump the allocations for these projects with projects that the party would be inclined to support. “One example of this is the allocations for NCN (National Communications Network) and GINA (Government Information Agency) being lumped with allocations for security at the Office of the President. This sort of budgeting is deceitful; it is trickery and an attempt by the government to foster bad spending by hiding it under layers of good spending.”
AFC said that the government will not be allowed to get away with such “underhand budgeting practices”.
As a matter of fact, AFC said, serious questions can be expected today in the Assembly’s Committee of Supply.
“At this stage, the Party would make strong recommendations for the Finance Minister to amend his estimates or face the likelihood of not having the estimates approved.”
It will be up to Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, to bring a budget that the House can approve.
“At this late stage he must stand guided by what transpires in the Committee of Supply. The ball is in the Minister’s court. The Alliance For Change wants to make it clear that we have no desire to deprive any person of their job or their wages, or any community of real development.  Neither is it our desire to ‘shut down’ this Government.”
However, the party said, it is the duty of a responsible government to separate bonafide, legitimate and reasonable spending from the areas of ‘slush and sleaze’.
“Should the Government attempt to force on the opposition a budget riddled with ‘pet projects’ it would be to their detriment and they would have to answer to the people. While the AFC fully supports the vast majority of the allocations in the 2014 Budget, the Party would be hard pressed to support a few allocations, and it is in this context that the Party has made a last-minute appeal for dialogue.”
This 10th Parliament has been the most difficult for the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as for the first time, since assuming power in 1992, it no longer controls the National Assembly. It lost the majority by one seat in the 2011 General and Regional Elections.
The Opposition, using that one-seat majority, has made cuts to the budget of 2012 and 2013, affecting a number of large-scale projects including the Amaila Falls hydropower project, the airport expansion at Timehri, the specialty hospital at Turkeyen and subventions to NCN and GINA.
The controversial cuts went to court and earlier this year there was a ruling that the Opposition cannot make cuts but can disapprove of allocations when it is time to vote. Only the Minister of Finance has that power.
However, the ruling of Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang has left the door open for the Minister of Finance to adjust the budget and bring it back. It is believed that the Opposition may very well take this route to effect the cuts.
The issue has raised questions of the independence of Parliament and the Executive (Government). A $220B budget was presented by the Finance Minister on March 24.

FM
Originally Posted by KishanB:

amjattan takes aim at ‘parallel treasuries’

Posted By Staff Writer On April 9, 2014 @ 5:24 am In Local News | No Comments

AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan has put the Donald Ramotar administration on notice that the opposition will put a halt to “parallel treasuries” built with billions being placed in accounts belonging to certain statutory agencies instead of the Consolidated Fund.

“We must not have parallel treasuries in Guyana. Not from the year 2014. It must stop and when the opposition is going to make the point that it should be halted please— members of the government side listen up—don’t go and say that we are chopping the budget when we know

that you are chopping it ten times more,” Ramjattan yesterday told the National Assembly as he opened the last day of budget debates before a week of considerations of the estimates begins.

AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan making a point yesterday during his contribution to this year’s budget debate.

AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan making a point yesterday during his contribution to this year’s budget debate.

Ramjattan said that this year’s budget could have been “far superior” if the views of the opposition, which are known by the government, had been incorporated. He said that since last year, during tripartite talks, the opposition had indicated to the government a number of things that were being sought.

He said while it is the responsibility of the government to prepare the budget, once there is a majority on the opposition side, it is “incumbent on a government that would like to see things happen that there be what is called inclusiveness on the part of the government on opposition views.”

He said that in a minority government, there must be “multi-party governance by necessity,” while adding that the opposition groups want their points to be given consideration and to be deliberated upon.

Ramjattan also said that it must be appreciated that even if the opposition is going to “use its scissors,” one must understand and appreciate that hatchets and shears were already being used prior to the opposition gaining a majority in the National Assembly.  He explained that cuts were made because the proceeds from all revenue streams were not going into the Consolidated Fund so that the opposition can have a fair grasp of how much revenues exist so that “we can disburse and expend.” He argued that the total revenue was never accurately represented in the budget.

According to Ramjattan, monies are being siphoned off into second accounts that belong to certain statutory agencies. He cited the Guyana Forestry Commission, saying that as outlined in the budget, its balance as of December 31 last totalled some $1,034,000, 000. “That was never put in the Consolidated Fund,” he stressed before going on to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, which had a balance at the end of 2013 of $12,625,000,000. He also mentioned Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, the Central Housing and Planning Authority, the Lotto Funds and the National Industrial & Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL).  “These bodies have government’s monies—what is called public monies under the constitution and the financial management and accountability act. That alone totals some $27.7 billion. That is not there,” he noted.

 

Bypass mechanism

 

He added that there are a number of agencies that have bank balances that have not been put into the Consolidated Fund although the Auditor General makes it clear that those sums ought to be put there.

He said that unless all the monies are put into the Consolidated Fund, “we will not have a true representation of the state of our finances.” He added that Cabinet knows of the billions of public funds that are being siphoned and made the point that this is a huge flaw in this year’s budget as there is no true depiction of the state of these funds.

This year’s budget, he added, will have a deficit in the vicinity of some $32 billion. He said that there could have been a balanced budget but “no says the Finance Minister. No says the Cabinet….”

Ramjattan further said that recognised academics, such as former Auditor General Dr Anand Goolsarran, remarked that we have a “parallel treasury” in the form of these sums of money. The failure to channel these funds into the Consolidated Fund, as is required by the constitution, is wrong, he argued, while noting that the funds are being used for projects without parliamentary approval, such as the construction of the Marriott Hotel. “Every major capital project in this country which is going to utilise public monies must have the National Assembly’s approval,” he stressed, while noting that a lot of money had gone to project like the Marriott without the approval of the National Assembly.

“When you are going to do bypass mechanisms like these, we are going to anger your legally-elected representatives of the National Assembly. That is then going to cause a vexation of the spirit…,” he said to loud applause, before adding that it is “like a con game on the housewife with that kind of deceptive husband.”

Ramjattan said that there are other revenue streams that are being denied the budgetary process.

He cited billions in exemptions and tax concessions that are granted to certain investors and he noted that many of these are not rational. “It must come to an end because our Constitution says that all monies must go into the Consolidated Fund,” he declared, while adding that the Constitution is supreme but “when it comes to the finances it could be scattered about for them to spend as they want.”

He said that the billions that are not being put into the Consolidated Fund is what is responsible for the denial of a rightful due to citizens, including senior citizens who still cannot get a desired $15,000 old age pension.

 

High migration level

 

According to Ramjattan, the government talked a lot about how the nation has developed when compared with the past. However, he said that the point must be made that a lot of Guyanese are migrating and the level is so high that “government don’t want to bring out the census report as to what really our population is.”

Ramjattan told the House that about 1,000 persons per month are leaving Guyana, taking with them the skilled labour force. He said that the census will also reveal the poverty level of Guyanese.

His comments were met with shouts and heckles from the government side. “You see how he is jumping like a kangaroo already,” Ramjattan shouted above the heckling of the government MPs. This caused the Speaker Raphael Trotman to caution Ramjattan to “stay to his speech.”

Ramjattan continued speaking about migration and pointed out that “we are not getting the true picture” and he added that given the fact that our migration rate is the highest in the Caribbean.

He said it would seem as if the country is just manufacturing skills for other countries. We are outsourcing our greatest asset, that is our “human resources,” he said, and he reasoned that this is why many industries, including sugar, are in the state that they are in at present.

In relation to the sugar industry, Ramjattan said that “it is important that we ensure that that sector succeeds but it must not succeed with bail out every year.” He called for the board to be replaced. “You can’t go now and give good money to the same managers and board members,” he stressed, adding that while the mechanisation of the industry is a good move it will cause displacement of many workers. He said that among the focuses should be getting the skills back into the industry.

“I would forewarn that side of the house that our sugar industry, which is so important to all of us, must be managed better,” he said, adding that there would be lots of profit but with good management.

Ramjattan also stressed the need for the operationalising of the Public Procurement Commission to deal with the high incidence of corruption that exists.


Article printed from Stabroek News: http://www.stabroeknews.com

URL to article: http://www.stabroeknews.com/20...parallel-treasuries/

 

 

Ramjattan seh - PPP done teif out $34 billion from the budget before it came to the house - hachet and shears.  That is what the PPP did to the budget.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Ramjattan seh - PPP done teif out $34 billion from the budget before it came to the house - hachet and shears.  That is what the PPP did to the budget

 

Did he call them thieves?

FM
Last edited by Former Member

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