Opposition leader’s budgetary allocations “wholly inadequate” – Granger - maintains that the govt. is trying to stifle the shadow cabinet
By Abena Rockcliffe, April 22, 2013, By KNews, Filed Under News, Source
This year’s budgetary allocation of $14.8M for the Office of the Opposition Leader is being dubbed “wholly inadequate” by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Leader, David Granger.
Granger noted that it’s just not enough to do the things needed to be done.
APNU, which occupies the majority of seats on the Opposition’s side in the National Assembly had, since early last year, disclosed that it is not accessing sufficient funding from the government to carry out its mandate as stipulated by the constitution.
In addition, many members of the party had voiced that the government is intentionally seeking to stifle the office.
Granger made no qualms to express that exact concern in the National Assembly last week, when it passed an $8.1M allocation for his office to carry out its functions.
A further $6.7M was granted to the office to procure furniture and office supplies.
During the sitting, Granger told the House that around the same time of the 2011 elections, the furniture that had been stored in Parliament Office, to be given to his office, had been disposed of; therefore, when he assumed office there was no furniture available. He lamented that his office has since been operating without furniture.
APNU Member of Parliament Joe Harmon told the House that the removal of furniture was an order taken by the Parliament Office from Head of Presidential Secretariat, Roger Luncheon. But Presidential Advisor, Gail Teixeira argued that the instruction was one from the then Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran.
However, when contacted yesterday, Granger noted that irrespective of whoever gave the instruction, the fact remains that his office has been struggling with the shortage of furniture, amongst other things.
The Opposition Leader said that the $6M allocated for furniture– that should have been there from the inception– is not being deemed a luxury by his party.
“So basically, we have been granted $8.1M to carry out the functions of a shadow cabinet, an amount which is way less than that allocated for the Office of the First Lady.”
Granger said that even with the consideration of the $6.7M, the amount is “wholly inadequate.”
He noted that the party had petitioned for vehicles, and requested funding to facilitate a hiring of more staff members, none of which was granted.
According to Granger, it is unfortunate that the Opposition cannot raise the amount presented in the budget; only reduce it.
Granger, yesterday again sought to explain how long his office has been operating under these constraints.
He said that the government still owes 50 per cent of the rent for the building in which the Opposition Leader’s office is housed for the entire of last year. This Granger said is because even though the government has been furnished with the lease agreement, only half of the monthly rental fee is being paid out of the Treasury.
In a previous interview, Granger explained that the government took the stance that it is only paying half of the rental for the building based on an agreement signed 10 years ago. The government is seemly not willing to renew that agreement.
He said back then, even office items that were part of the agreement have not been fully provided. “We were given a small amount of necessary office supplies,” Granger declared.
He said that his office forms the shadow Cabinet and is in receipt of several complaints from citizens all across Guyana. “It is becoming harder to meet the needs of citizens with the limited resources,” Granger stated.
An Act of Parliament provides for an office of the Leader of the Opposition to be funded through the national coffers.
The Act mandates the government to provide a “rent free office” for the Opposition Leader, and security for both the provided office and the home of the Opposition Leader.
Granger said that his team is committed to serving the people of Guyana and can’t do so effectively at the moment.
Some roles of the Opposition Leader include holding the executive accountable, preparing the opposition to become an ‘alternative government’; scrutinizing and ensuring that proposed legislations are in the best interest of the people, engaging the government as specified by the Constitution, in meaningful consultations on important appointments such as Chief Justice, and adequately representing in the National Assembly and generally, the interests and concerns of citizens.
