Latest update April 27th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 30, 2013 News
President Donald Ramotar, yesterday, met with top officials of the main Opposition, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), as worry continues over the seeming stalemate in the National Assembly.
Officials from both the executive and APNU said that the idea is to broker an agreement on an agenda to address some of the more contentious issues that have seen both sides refusing to pass legislations.
Following the November 2011 General and Regional Elections, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) lost its voting majority by one seat in the National Assembly with the Ramotar administration being immediately faced with an almost $20B in budget cuts.
Last year was a tumultuous one for the National Parliament with battles, inside the National Assembly and at the local courts, over the legislations. The government has withheld assent to a number of legislations tabled by the Opposition’s APNU and the seven-seat Alliance For Change (AFC).
More recently, in addition to this year’s $31B budget cuts, the Opposition refused to back critical anti-money laundering laws, accusing Government of delaying the tabling of the Bills until the last moment.
Guyana, this week, was granted time to pass the anti-money laundering Bill- until November.
President Ramotar is set to meet with the AFC, shortly, to attempt an agreement.
The administration would more than want some kind of agreement as several major infrastructure projects are on a hold, including the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA); the Indian-funded Specialty Hospital at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, and the funding for the US$850M Amaila Falls hydro project.
The Opposition has been relentless on a number of projects, questioning government over these and the 2011 questionable granting of several radio licences to mainly persons close to the administration.
Already, in the National Assembly, the Opposition used its majority to block the budget for the National Communications Network and the Government Information Agency, two state media entities, they say is unfair to them.
At the meeting with President Ramotar yesterday was Dr. Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat. Representing APNU were its leader, Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger; Shadow Minister for Public Works, Joseph Harmon; Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Deborah Backer; and the coalition’s advisor, Lance Carberry.
According to sources, the discussions yesterday were “frank” with issues of cooperation high in the air.
During his speech at the 47th Independence anniversary on Saturday evening, President Ramotar called for cooperation, and pleaded with the Opposition to put Guyana first.
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