Opposition incapable of responding to major elements of the Budget – Dr. Luncheon

April 6, 2013, By KNews, Filed Under News, Source

As Government clashes with the Opposition Parties in the National Assembly over the provision of services, constitutionality, and corruption during the 2013 Budget debates, it claims that the Opposition is incapable of responding to the major elements of the $208.8B Budget.

Dr. Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat

Dr. Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, yesterday said that Government had expected that the Opposition Parties – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance for Change (AFC) – would have objected to the 2013 Budget.

Dr. Luncheon related that the major contention about the Budget is about process and the Opposition has resorted to claims of unconstitutionality, funds not being in the Consolidated Fund, and criticism of public expenditure under this administration.

The Government side of the House, since the debates began on Tuesday, has been arguing that the Budget seeks to satisfy the needs of all Guyanese and will see Guyana along a positive growth path. However, Opposition Members of Parliament contended that the budget is not working class, does not cater for the poor, is unconstitutional, and accused Government of corruption.

According to Dr. Luncheon, the occasional outburst by the Opposition about content ignores Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh’s considerations of each sector. He said that the Opposition’s silence on macro-economic stability must be judged as a job well done under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) from 1992 to 2013.

He said that macro-economic instability wreaks havoc on the poor and vulnerable. As such, this Government was able to provide macro-economic stability and several features were highlighted by the Finance Minister during his Budget presentation on March 25.

According to Dr. Luncheon, in 2012, Guyana’s real Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.8 percent and the inflation rate was 3.5 percent as projected in 2011.

He emphasised that the Opposition is cultivating confusion of their actual intentions of the Budget: either reject the Budget and have elections; cut or do not cut the Budget; talks or no talks; or pause or no pause.

Dr. Luncheon stated that Cabinet wonders if the Opposition is talking to Guyanese when they comment that sugar workers are the Government’s problem and talk about lack of investments in Region 10.

He stressed that Cabinet feels that the debate was essentially defending that most comprehensive annual financing plan that is in line with PPP/C’s ongoing development strategy maintains macro-economic stability, sustains the level of investment in the social sector, and attends to the needs of vulnerable people.

Dr. Luncheon said that the Budget is a win-win proposition for all individuals, families and communities. “It is fashioned to respond to the various categories of Guyanese and brings total coverage and sustainability,” Luncheon stated.