Opposition holding budget hostage to sell political agenda - Finance Ministe

The Alliance for Change has given notice to the National Assembly of its intention to cut the 2013 National budget, despite knowing the fact that, legally, it is already firmly established in the 2012 Budget cut case that the opposition has no power in law, and under the constitution to reduce the budget estimates.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said the proposed cuts defy logic, and have no merit for the good intentions towards the future of Guyana and are also in defiance of the ruling by the Chief Justice last year while designed to harm the nation.

“They are holding the budget hostage to sell their political agenda,” he observed.

Minister Singh, along with Presidential Advisor on Governance, Ms. Gail Teixeira and Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali was at the time participating in a live television programme on the National Communications Network. The topic under focus was the 2013 National Budget and the AFC proposed cuts to the budget.

From left to right: Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, Presidential Advisor of Governance Gail Teixeira and Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali. Facing the government officials is NCN Editor Edward Layne.

Talks

The Government remains consistent in its willingness to talk on the estimates presented to the National Assembly for 2013, Teixeira stated; however, this time around, Government also has major issues of its own to bring to these talks with the political opposition.

She was referring to a request made today to the Head of State President Donald Ramotar by the political opposition for talks just after the AFC had made public their proposals for cuts to the 2013 Budget and A Partnership for National Unity had indicated a willingness to find ways to avoid cuts.

Irresponsible

Minister Ali stated that the proposed cuts and irresponsible statements by the two opposition parties are geared towards creating mischief and uneasiness among the people. He observed that there was a pattern to the unreasonable requests put forward by the opposition when their backs were against the wall. The Minister likened the proposed call for a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the workings of Guysuco to the call for the COI into the Linden events of July 18. The results of the Linden COI were not accepted, and similarly, the likelihood remains that the results of any other COI they call for would not be, either.

Dangerous statement

Minister Ali pointed to the very dangerous statement made by the opposition that Government has been hiring persons based on their ethnicity and political affiliations. This, he vehemently denied, stating that the administration has always strived to employ persons based on their abilities, competency and qualifications. The Minister declared that the insinuation of ethnicity is dangerous, as well as disrespectful to the thousands employed in the public service.

He observed also that the cuts proposed which will immediately see the termination of jobs for thousands of Government workers who opted for contract employment, will effectively bring the country to a standstill, which is what the opposition is aiming for in order to claim failed governance of the PPP/C administration.

Cuts

Areas identified to be cut are Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) programmes, Hinterland electrification,  Drainage and Irrigation, competitiveness programme, East Bank Highway project, Citizens Security Programme, National Communications Network (NCN), Government Information Agency (GINA), Sports and arts development fund, Board of Industrial Training (BIT) programmes, Guyana Elections Commission, funding for all contracted employees under the Ministries of Home Affairs, Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Public Works, Local Government and Regional Development, Finance and Office of the President.

The Housing Minister pointed to the cuts proposed for the Competitiveness programme which puts the AFC in direct opposition to the call by A Partnership for National Unity’s Carl Greenidge for the development of a business climate conducive to competition. He described this proposal as illogical and seeking to sacrifice Government’s agenda towards political gain.

The most baseless of all the cuts proposed however, is the one aimed towards the Social Services Sector which has oversight and responsibility for support to the elderly; to ensure the payment of the increased pension and the support for electricity subsidy to pensioners. This will be severely affected by the cut.

Minster Ali also reiterated that the arguments regarding the subsidy for the Demerara Harbour Bridge as against the high costs at the Berbice Bridge were to mislead the people. He pointed out that nationalisation would only take the country backward onto the path of dictatorship.

On the issue of the LCDS and Information and Communication Technology Programmes, Minister Ali stated quite clearly, these cuts were directed against the Amerindian communities and the AFC is saying here to Amerindians that they are not important and could be classed as ‘collateral damage.’

He also highlighted the inexplicable cut of funds to address the East Bank highway where congestion is rife due to increased housing allocations and commuter traffic. This cut was proposed, despite repeated calls to have the issue addressed.

Minster Ali also noted that while funding was not cut for the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, proposed cut in funding for the access road has been made.  Cuts in funding for the Public Security programme, equipment for the Home Affairs Ministry, the Specialty Hospital, and the airport expansion will affect major transformation projects aimed at a better Guyana for all. Minister Ali also added that the halting of these projects will severely cripple the construction sector.

“Talking is not our problem, we are not going to be bullied, pressured or trampled upon. We will stick to our commitment to the people of Guyana and not exploit them,” the Minster declared.

Minister Singh noted that Budget 2013 has enjoyed tremendous support throughout the country. He pointed to favourable responses from the private sector, labour, the Chamber of Commerce and FITUG and ordinary Guyanese.

He also noted that while the recent debate was a traditional rehash of political rhetoric, he expressed concern about their attempt to link non-related matters to the passage of the budget holding the budget to ransom in the process. This, Minister Singh, observed is tantamount to holding the people of Guyana to ransom in order to extract concession on other matters.

Meanwhile, Ms. Texeira said the AFC’s proposal defies rhyme and reason and is vindictive. She noted that the letter to the President to have talks on the estimates during the gap before its consideration should have come instead, for pre-Budget talks.

While she acknowledged that the talks were needed, she noted the hedging of the opposition and said it is now nothing but a drawn out process which will result in nothing, a clear case of bullyism she said, noting however, that Government will not close the door on such talks.

Teixeira pointed to the double standards and lack of ethics in the call for the COI for Guysuco while the opposition is noted for not accepting the results presented by such a body.