Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 16, 2013 News
As government and the opposition continue to battle in the National Assembly over budget cuts, and a stalemate over the passage of crucial legislations, officials of the US State Department on Tuesday met with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and were updated on the local situation.
APNU, the main opposition bloc that controls 26 seats in the assembly, also said yesterday that the “vexed issues of bad governance” by the administration were raised with the US officials.
Attending the meeting was Wendy Sneff, Southern Caribbean Desk Officer of the US State Department. She was accompanied by Michael Fraser, Political and Economic Chief, of the US Embassy in Georgetown. The meeting was held at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
Representing APNU were Leader of the Opposition, Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger, MP, along with the Shadow Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Speaker, Deborah Backer, MP; Public Security, Winston Felix, MP; Public Infrastructure and Communications, Joseph Harmon, MP and Policy Advisor, Lance Carberry.
APNU said that Sneff was interested in learning about developments in the National Assembly, “particularly the rationale for and purpose of the 2013 Budget cuts by the majority Opposition Parties.”
The APNU team said it provided a comprehensive review of development in the National Assembly and the views of the APNU with respect to them.
“The opportunity was also used to review the wider range of political developments in Guyana, including the vexed issues of bad Governance by the Administration and the deliberate policy of starving the Constitutional Office of the Leader of the Opposition of the resources needed for the effective discharge of the functional responsibilities of the Office.”
The National Assembly has been heavily divided since the 2011 General Elections where for the first time since taking power in 1992, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) lost it voting majority. The combined Opposition of APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC) has 33 seats – a one-seat majority.
The 10th Parliament has, since the elections, been characterized by a battle for control of the coveted Speaker’s position which went to the AFC former executive, Raphael Trotman. Then, there were the controversial budget cuts last year in which the Opposition voted down almost $20B.
Government was able to later utilize the slashed funds after a controversial court ruling. This year, billions were also reduced from the budget, affecting a number of large projects including the expansion of the international airport at Timehri and the running of transmission lines for the Guyana Power and Light Inc.
The matter has escalated to a point now where Government and Opposition are refusing to pass Bills tabled by each other.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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