– Budget 2010 passed in National Assembly

Subsequent to issuing an apology to the National Assembly for making false claims about Hansard tampering, the Alliance for Change (AFC) failed to show up for yesterday’s sitting which saw the passing of the 2010 National Budget.

Chairman of the AFC Khemraj Ramjattan had charged that the Parliamentary Hansard was tampered with  and had informed Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran of this.

However, prior to the conclusion of the investigation, Ramjattan issued a statement to the media which was published in the Kaieteur News and the Speaker has since debunked the claims after proving that the audio recording and the Hansard corresponded on the issue. Ramjattan had stated that the Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali, when questioned on the matter, had said ‘we have already spent it’ when the Hansard quoted him as saying ‘we are ready.’ This was indeed what was said and an apology was issued by Ramjattan to the House.

Yesterday, the party was notably missing as the House considered estimates of expenditure for the financial year 2010 and they were passed. The Appropriation Bill 2010, Bill No. 2 of 2010 was read for a first, second and third time and passed.

Minister Singh reported that the Committee of Supply considered the estimates of expenditure for the financial year 2010 and approved of them as printed.

Speaker of the National Assembly, in passing the estimates, said, “This National Assembly approves of the estimates of expenditure for the financial year 2010 of a total sum of $125,568,573,000, excluding $17,207,026,000 which is chargeable by law as detailed therein and summarized in the schedule and agree that it is expedient to amend the law to make further provision in respect of finance.”

Members of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) had sought clarification on a number of issues from the respective subject Ministers during the presentation of the estimates. (GINA)