Political parties to work together on 2012 budget preparations

Dec 16, 2011 News

Several issues pertinent to the country’s development were raised and discussed at another meeting held between the two parliamentary opposition parties and a team led by President Donald Ramotar yesterday.
The two sides which comprised A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Alliance for Change (AFC) and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) met yesterday at the Office of the President.
According to a joint statement issued through the office of the president, the parties agreed that the Minister of Finance will meet with the two identified finance persons of the APNU and AFC in the near future to consult on the preparation of the Budget 2012.
It was agreed upon that the National Assembly will not be convened in December and that these parties would name two persons each as their plenipotentiaries who will meet after December 21, to work on identified and agreed on priority issues.
The three parties will return on Monday to exchange lists of issues for discussion and prioritization at their next meeting which is scheduled for December 21.
President Ramotar who had extended the invitation was accompanied by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon and Presidential Adviser Gail Teixeira.
The APNU delegation comprised Brigadier (retired) David Granger, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine and Joseph Harmon and representatives of the AFC included Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan, Clayton Hall and Gerhard Ramsaroop.