Ramotar’s tripartite arrangement in further jeopardy
… as Teixeira reminds Govt. won’t be held to ransom
February 18, 2012 | By KNews | Filed Under News
Source - Kaieteur News
Minister of Finance Ashni Singh
The Tripartite Arrangement which was initiated by Head of State Donald Ramotar as a means to foster political cooperation between the Government, Alliance for Change and A Partnership for National Unity is now in further jeopardy.
This is as a result of the developments in the National Assembly on Thursday last where the combined opposition voted down several provisions representing advances made from the Contingencies Fund.
While the Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira insists that the ruling administration is experienced in negotiating in hostile environments with parties and will press on with the Tripartite arrangements, the Finance Minister says that at the Tripartite level the developments of last Thursday will always be a hovering shadow.
Again accusing the opposition of not conforming to convention and tradition as it relates to parliamentary practices, the Finance Minister questioned the opposition motive but said what is clear is that they have “showed their hand.”
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds while addressing members of the media following the stalemate in the House, said that he was extremely disappointed “in how things went this afternoon in the House.”
Hinds said that there could hardly be any questions about a lack of transparency on the part of the administration, adding, that as it relates to the foreign funded projects the details are listed on the websites of the donor agencies as well as in the budget in the section that deals with capital projects.
Dr Singh insisted that the position taken by the opposition “tells a story about the opposition’s real position when it comes to a willingness to cooperate and to work collaboratively….I think the real hand of the opposition was disclosed today (Thursday).”
He said that it is indicative of what was illustrated by the opposition that there is no willingness to cooperate.
“Their intention really is to use their parliamentary majority of one to frustrate the work of Government and the development programme of this country.”
Dr Singh said that it is an extremely disappointing situation and an irresponsible position by the opposition.
Teixeira condemned the actions of the opposition as highly irresponsible and reckless adding that during an internal meeting she had pointed out that Thursday’s sitting would represent an ‘outing’ for the combined opposition, “outing meaning, they would have had to declare their hands.”
Gail Teixeira
She said that Guyana is now in a position where, “the opposition shows that they are not willing to stand by their own words of cooperation.”
Dr Singh reiterated “the clear and manifest unreasonableness on the part of the opposition will inevitably have an impact and implication in the context of the tripartite discussions.”
The Finance Minister said that those involved in the tripartite discussions on the government side will inevitably have to question the sincerity of the opposition. “In fact I have heard it said that the opposition could scarcely be said to be committed to working together when they were having discussion in the tripartite committee on certain matters and still taking public postures on those same matters.”
Dr Singh also suggested that he is committed to continued consultation with the opposition on the preparation of the 2012 Budget but “will do so now with the shadow of today’s’ events lurking in the background and the inevitable question of whether this opposition is seriously interested in national development or is really interested in scoring political points.”
He suggested that the actions of the opposition suggest that it is not interested in national development.
“One could only wonder what they will bring to the budget consultation,” said Dr Singh.
He said that the motives of the opposition will have to be taken into consideration in future, when listening to their contributions on any other matter.
… as Teixeira reminds Govt. won’t be held to ransom
February 18, 2012 | By KNews | Filed Under News
Source - Kaieteur News
Minister of Finance Ashni SinghThe Tripartite Arrangement which was initiated by Head of State Donald Ramotar as a means to foster political cooperation between the Government, Alliance for Change and A Partnership for National Unity is now in further jeopardy.
This is as a result of the developments in the National Assembly on Thursday last where the combined opposition voted down several provisions representing advances made from the Contingencies Fund.
While the Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira insists that the ruling administration is experienced in negotiating in hostile environments with parties and will press on with the Tripartite arrangements, the Finance Minister says that at the Tripartite level the developments of last Thursday will always be a hovering shadow.
Again accusing the opposition of not conforming to convention and tradition as it relates to parliamentary practices, the Finance Minister questioned the opposition motive but said what is clear is that they have “showed their hand.”
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds while addressing members of the media following the stalemate in the House, said that he was extremely disappointed “in how things went this afternoon in the House.”
Hinds said that there could hardly be any questions about a lack of transparency on the part of the administration, adding, that as it relates to the foreign funded projects the details are listed on the websites of the donor agencies as well as in the budget in the section that deals with capital projects.
Dr Singh insisted that the position taken by the opposition “tells a story about the opposition’s real position when it comes to a willingness to cooperate and to work collaboratively….I think the real hand of the opposition was disclosed today (Thursday).”
He said that it is indicative of what was illustrated by the opposition that there is no willingness to cooperate.
“Their intention really is to use their parliamentary majority of one to frustrate the work of Government and the development programme of this country.”
Dr Singh said that it is an extremely disappointing situation and an irresponsible position by the opposition.
Teixeira condemned the actions of the opposition as highly irresponsible and reckless adding that during an internal meeting she had pointed out that Thursday’s sitting would represent an ‘outing’ for the combined opposition, “outing meaning, they would have had to declare their hands.”
Gail TeixeiraShe said that Guyana is now in a position where, “the opposition shows that they are not willing to stand by their own words of cooperation.”
Dr Singh reiterated “the clear and manifest unreasonableness on the part of the opposition will inevitably have an impact and implication in the context of the tripartite discussions.”
The Finance Minister said that those involved in the tripartite discussions on the government side will inevitably have to question the sincerity of the opposition. “In fact I have heard it said that the opposition could scarcely be said to be committed to working together when they were having discussion in the tripartite committee on certain matters and still taking public postures on those same matters.”
Dr Singh also suggested that he is committed to continued consultation with the opposition on the preparation of the 2012 Budget but “will do so now with the shadow of today’s’ events lurking in the background and the inevitable question of whether this opposition is seriously interested in national development or is really interested in scoring political points.”
He suggested that the actions of the opposition suggest that it is not interested in national development.
“One could only wonder what they will bring to the budget consultation,” said Dr Singh.
He said that the motives of the opposition will have to be taken into consideration in future, when listening to their contributions on any other matter.
