Latest update May 10th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 21, 2014 News
– Chris Ram
The mixture of surprise and relief when Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, announced in the National Assembly that he would be amending the 2014 Appropriation Bill to reflect the non-approval by the Committee of Supply of several items in the 2014 National Budget has given way to skepticism, suspicion and speculation.
According to Chartered Accountant Chris Ram, of the six programmes not approved, two are under the Office of the President.
Ram said that for all the surprises at the various estimates that were approved and not approved, perhaps the biggest surprise of all was that Dr. Singh did not hesitate to give the National Assembly the undertaking that he would present an amended Appropriations Bill to reflect the decisions by the Committee of Supply.
“It is asking a lot of President Ramotar to assent to a Bill that strips his Office, of $5.1B of the $6B sought in the 2014 Estimates, effectively crippling the Presidency,” Ram said.
Ram went on to state that it would be easy to regard the amended Budget 2014 as a done deal and therefore a victory of sorts for the opposition.
He said that after taking out the amounts not approved, the budget deficit almost disappears.
“That would be too good to be true.”
Ram noted that when the Finance Minister made his announcement that he would present an amended Appropriation Bill to exclude all the not approved amounts, he must be presumed to have consulted with the President and his Cabinet colleagues, including the Attorney General.
Further he said that most persons expect a response from the Government even if the amended 2014 Appropriation Bill is approved by the President.
“At best, we will have the first Supplementary Appropriation Bill for 2014 to restore the non-controversial items, which were the victims of collateral damage.”
According to Ram, 2012 served as a guide and he believes that the Minister of Finance will simply release the funds that have been removed by the Opposition and accepted by the Government in the amended Appropriation Act.
Still others expect the Attorney General to return to court with the argument that the Presidency is a constitutional office subject to a direct charge on the Consolidated Fund, and therefore immune from approval or non-approval.
There is merit in that argument and some money will have to be restored to allow the Office to function effectively.
It is disgusting that our teachers have to protest in the streets for a…
May 10, 2024
– President Ali visits Guyana National Stadium By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – Yesterday, the National Assembly successfully passed the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies Bill, 2024,...Kaieteur News – This column does not respond to criticisms, except where there is misrepresentation of what was said... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]