Delay ploy by parliamentary opposition could create uneasiness

Delay ploy by parliamentary opposition could create uneasiness – Irfaan Ali

Apr 10, 2013 News

Government on Monday lashed out at the parliamentary opposition, insisting that it is attempting to engage a delaying ploy to hinder the passage of the $208.8 billion 2013 National Budget which was recently presented by Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh.
During a press conference held at the People’s Progressive Party headquarters (Freedom House),

Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali

Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, explained that historically a line-by-line consideration of the estimates is undertaken one day after the completion of the budget debates. However, he noted that the opposition has indicated its unwillingness to do so. Reports are that the opposition has plans to thoroughly review the budget presented by the Finance Minister before proceeding with the line-by-line considerations of the proposed estimates.
But according to Ali, “we have not had anything officially from them to say these are the reasons or we want you to consider these things. Suddenly we have been given this surprise that they want to delay the considerations of the estimates.”
Such a tactic, according to the Housing Minister, has the potential of creating uneasiness within the society. According to him, Government’s position is that “we should move immediately with considerations of the estimates as we have historically done…When you leave a gap like that we have to be very, very careful,” the Minister asserted.
He informed too that the opposition had all year been in the position to make statements, pointing out too that “they had pre-budget and during the budget to consider all aspects of the estimates and I think that they should be in a position of readiness.”
According to Ali, even before the budget was announced, Leader of the Alliance for Change, Khemraj Ramjattan, had indicated that he would cut it, an indication that “he has already defined in his mind what he wants to do.”
Ali recounted too that during the course of the budget debates, which commenced last week, one opposition member called it “dead on arrival”, while another member said that “it would not see the light of day” as even another said that “certain segments would not be approved” thereby sending varied signals.
“It is clear they have something in their minds, but I think we should get on with the people’s business and consider the estimates and move on,” said Ali on Monday.
Among the areas that the parliamentary opposition have been eyeing for a cut include the allocations to the Government-owned National Communications Network and the Government Information Agency which were targeted last year. Also among the areas being considered for a budgetary slash are the subventions that have been awarded to the ailing Skeldon Sugar Factory and the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated.