“All talk, no walk; all gear, no game” – Ramson raps Gov’t youth exclusion
By Jomo Paul
[www.inewsguyana.com] – People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament (MP) Charles Ramson Jr says that he cannot vote to pass the 2015 Budget since it is “flaccid” and does not adequately address the concerns of Guyana’s youth.
In his maiden budget presentation, Ramson said since its ascension to office, the APNU+AFC administration has been “neglecting the youth of Guyana” – something which he deemed unconstitutional.
“First the government relegated and denigrated the Ministry of youth…something that we totally disagree with…young people should occupy seats of power in all spheres of the State especially in the cabinet,” said Ramson.
“Youth are the reason you now occupy that seat of power and we deserve more than two measly paragraphs in your budget presentation,” he stated, noting that the government is “all talk, no walk; all gear, no game.”
According to him, the APNU+AFC while in Opposition had facile ideas about the development of Guyana but now that it has gained office, it is clear to see that those ideas as in fact “flaccid.”
However, Junior Health Minister Dr Karen Cummings fired back at Ramson shortly after he made his speech. According to her, during the 23 years that the PPP was in parliament, no emphasis was placed on Guyana’s youth.
She said that the Party had ample opportunity to develop a youth policy but did not do such but rather sent the youth unemployment rate up to 40%. The Junior Minister pointed out that within the first 100 days in office, the APNU+AFC has been able to produce a draft youth policy document.
Dr Cummings also noted that new government will be taking a frontal approach to dealing with the issue of suicide and promised that Guyana will be the “mecca” of good health in the future.