Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 23, 2015 News
The verbal showdown that was expected between Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo during the closure of the Budget Debates on Friday did not occur.
Jagdeo accused Finance Minister, Winston Jordan of crafting a poor budget, attempted to school members on the basics of economics, lambasted the government for having a fetish for fancy cars and advisors and attacked, at length, the character of Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge.
Jagdeo stressed that Jordan designed a budget that is going to ultimately “flat line” the economy. He added that while he is willing to work with the government, he will not miss a single beat in holding them accountable.
His presentation incensed the government so much so that House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland had cause to plead with them to desist from using “unparliamentary” language in the National Assembly.
But the ruckus only erupted in the government’s side of the House as throughout Jagdeo’s almost two hour long presentation, his members remained quiet.
At the conclusion of his speech, Jagdeo and his team left the House. They refused to wait around to hear a single word of Nagamootoo’s presentation and this too caused uproar in the Parliament. Members of the eastern side of the House were heard shouting, “Shame! Shame!” until each opposition member left the Chambers.
But even in his absence, the Prime Minister responded to most of the accusations made not only by Jagdeo on Friday night but by the rest of the members from the Opposition’s camp during previous days. He also defended the 2015 Budget and praised the Finance Minister and his team for a job well done.
As the Prime Minister took the floor, he surmised that Jagdeo’s presentation did not surprise him. In fact, he expected it “from such a person”. He said that Jagdeo merely took the floor to, “cuss down and run away.”
The First Vice President added, “It was the usual cuss down from the Honourable Jagdeo. He lectured all of us on security. Well, old people say show me your friends and I tell you who you are.”
On that note, the Prime Minister said that when Jagdeo has friends like the self confessed drug dealer Roger Khan, embattled New York-based Guyanese Ed Ahmad, and Sonny Ramdeo who was sentenced to 20 years for fraud, then he is in no position to lecture anyone about crime as his associates are in jail.
Nagamootoo also expressed disappointment in the fact that Opposition Members did not even see it fit to express unconditional support for Guyana as it is facing Venezuela in the territorial controversy.
And as for the allegations throughout the debates over the 2015 budget that the government is involved in ethnic cleansing, the Vice President said he is just “sick and tired of it.”
He stressed that given the territorial controversy, such negative comments only serve to “wound the soul of Guyana.”
Despite the debasement of the 2015 budget by the Opposition, Nagamootoo expressed that he is confident in the budget’s potential in securing the good life for all Guyanese.
The Vice President said that the coalition government is committed to delivering on its APNU+AFC 100 day programme and briefly reported to the Parliament, how government is doing with respect to each of the 21 promises.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
Apr 24, 2024
Round 2 GFF Women’s League Division One Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Police Force FC on Saturday last demolished Pakuri Jaguars FC with a 17 – 0 goal blitz at the Guyana Football...Kaieteur News – Just recently, the PPC determined that it does not have the authority to vitiate a contract which was... 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]