Nadir announces Government move to salvage Critchlow College

LABOUR Minister, Manzoor Nadir, said Tuesday that Government is presently examining how to salvage the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) as it is committed to providing training for all Guyanese.

Making the disclosure, he mentioned the budgetary allocation for the Board of Industrial Training and other programmes under other ministries, all to the tune of $86M.

Mr. Nadir offered the information when he shot down proposals, for inclusion in the 2009 National Budget, by Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Robert Corbin.

The Minister and the Peoplexs National Congress Reform-One Guyana (PNCR-1G) Leader differed during the ongoing debate in the National Assembly.

Two recommendations by Corbin were that Government should enter into serious discussion with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and restore the subvention to the CLC.

Nadir said Government does not have a problem funding education for youths but with financing salaries of people who are not contributing to it.

He said a request was made for the financial records and the operational audit of the CLC and some were submitted but there is still the issue that the institution was initially incorporated as a private company.

Nadir said, presently, determining who really owns the college and the legitimate directors on its board has been most difficult.

Addressing the issue of taxation and increased wages and salaries for Government workers, raised by Corbin who called for the Value Added Tax (VAT) to be reduced by at least eight per cent, the minister stated that revenue projection has done well in spite of no new taxes.

Programme
Nadir said, from 2006 to 2008, the Governmentxs programme has been to continuously lessen taxes and, during that period, 70,000 persons were removed from the tax net when the threshold was moved from $20,000 to $35,000.

He said that was because the economy needed such action then.

Acknowledging that the threshold has seen no movement since, Nadir, however, pointed out that the single largest tax cut in this country was effected through VAT, at which time Government reduced tax on some 400 items from 30 per cent to 16 per cent.

He maintained that tax reform has been taking place and what the Finance Minister promised in his presentation is an even greater analysis.

According to Nadir, because the tax rate has been lowered and the economy is growing, the Finance Minister has been able to project current revenues greater than what expenditure will be.

The United Force (TUF) Leader added that this is a credit to the policies and programmes of the Peoplexs Progressive Party Civic (PPPC).

Nadir opined that, whatever the opposition sees the PPPC do would all be condemned, as nothing will ever be enough for the other side.

He declared that this Budget has something for everyone in it, all of which are developmental for the people of Guyana.

It is not about how big the programmes are but how well they will work, said Nadir, who also pointed to the performance his ministry over the last few years.

He said, in 2006, it had placed almost 1,000 persons in jobs and last year, of the 2,000 who sought such assistance, that department of the ministry helped at least 60 per cent of those individuals.

Talks
Corbin had also renewed his partyxs call for shared governance and said serious consideration should be given to starting talks involving all stakeholders as soon as possible.

He also demanded a review of the tariffs for crossing the Berbice River Bridge, citing complaints by residents in that county whose children have to use the facility.

Corbin suggested that the company responsible for the bridge be put under the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) oversight.

The PNCR-1G Leader also proposed consultations between the Government and the Oppositions in order that a resolution can be achieved or, alternatively, some sort of mechanism is instituted to address the issue.

Another Corbin suggestion was for what he called adequate assistance to farmers in the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary, who were affected by the January floods.

He said the aid offered recently by Government was insufficient.

Corbin requested that the Home Affairs Ministry withdraws the directive for drawings and writings be erased from mini-buses.

He referred to it as a campaign against minibus owners and operators and alleged it is causing them to be harassed by the Police and presenting an opportunity for corruption on the roads by some ranks.

The Ministry has since extended the deadline for compliance with the edict to March 15.

In another part of his contribution to the Budget debate, Corbin said there needs to be genuine commitment to reform of the Local Government system, if the Government is serious about working together.

He advocated some measures to allow the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) to function effectively without interference from outside elements.

There must be a way to reduce friction in the RDCs and see that due respect is accorded their offices and functions, Corbin said.

He recommended, as well, the naming of an Integrity Commission which would enjoy the confidence of all Guyanese, a Public Procurement Commission that is non-partisan and a properly elected and appointed Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) that is truly representative and constitutional.

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