– affirms widespread consultations in Region Six
QUOTE:“We have not paved all the roads or rebuilt all the bridges, we have not done all we wanted to do, but we did the best with what funds and resources we had available,” Dr. Mahadeo.
FIVE days of debates on the 2011 Budget ended in the wee hours of Saturday morning with Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo emphasizing that the current administration has not ‘hung its hat where a hand cannot reach it.’ Instead, the government has delivered goods and services to the Guyanese people, as is their responsibility, and at the same time ensured a stable economic environment, one which withstood the shocks that other similar economies were negatively affected by.
“We have not paved all the roads or rebuilt all the bridges, we have not done all we wanted to do, but we did the best with what funds and resources we had available,” Dr. Mahadeo said.
However, recently appointed People’s National Congress Reform-One Guyana (PNCR-1G), Mrs. Joan Baveghems, in her maiden presentation, literally sang to the Members of the House.
Her song, ‘if I had a hammer’, lashed out at a particular minister, as she pressed the point that the concerns of the people are not addressed.
She contended, like her party colleagues, that the budget is an election year tool, as did and said that there is much lacking in the provisions made, expressly for the social sectors.
According to Baveghems, taxpayers’ monies could be used in a better manner and the current administration’s stewardship of state funds could be better managed.
She proffered that the theme of the 2011 Budget is wrong and should have been: “Delivering more poverty for tomorrow today.”
Mahadeo rebutted Baveghems contention, asserting that the 2011 Budget is undeniably a people’s budget, since it was compiled based on their inputs.
“I would like to clearly state that in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) there have been consultations across the Region for the preparation of this budget. Consultations were done by the NDCs, the different departments – Health, Education, Agriculture, etcetera,” he said.

Accountability
According to him, the residents of the Region are involved in the management of the government institutions and are given the opportunity to hold government officials accountable.
He pointed out that Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) in all the committees are functioning and they report to the monthly Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meetings.
“We also keep our fingers on the pulse of the Region. The regional administration had, for the year 2010, 376 community meetings – outreaches that were led by the Regional Chairman. This does not include community meetings held by the departments of education and health in the Region,” Mahadeo disclosed.
He stressed the fact that developmental works facilitated by the current administration have been subject to inspection by a committee made up of councillors from all three political parties represented in the House.
“I would say that the opposition members need to make their objections and do the work they were elected to do at the regional level also. They make the final assessments after the community makes its contributions,” Mahadeo emphasized.
Continuing to press the fact of accountability was Mr. Anil Nandlall, also from the government side, who noted that there is a major consistency and flaw in the presentations from the opposition.
“We heard a series of irresponsible statements being made,” he said, referencing the recent claim by Alliance for Change (AFC) MP, Mrs. Sheila Holder, who cast doubts about the old age pension programme.
Mahadeo supported his colleague on this note declaring that “democracy is alive and well under the PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/ Civic) maintaining that progress is visible in all areas of life in Guyana.
“This is bad news for opposition. Their perceived strongholds now recognize the good work of the government and will support us,” Mahadeo submitted.
Slipping Strongholds
He referenced what he called a ‘Damned if they do, Damned if they don’t’ attitude maintained by the opposition as it relates to any effort undertaken or facilitated by the current administration.
However, he reiterated that the people are the witnesses to the progress made in Guyana, especially over the last four years.
“The PPP government will be vindicated when we return to the House with a larger majority showing that the Guyanese people believe in and want the PPP/C, and that they want peace, progress and prosperity to continue,” Mahadeo stressed.
Supporting his colleague was MP, Mr. Odinga Lumumba, who advanced the argument that “supposed strongholds” of the PNCR-1G are slipping away.
“Buxton is supposedly the base of the PNC – supposedly…Tipperary Hall has been in a state of disrepair for years, for decades, and they did nothing…as soon as the people requested we got it done,” he said.
Lumumba pointed out that the people have been calling for roads and water and other facilities to improve their lives for years and it is only under the current administration that massive improvements have been seen and executed.
“Open your eyes…the PNC has caused us much hard work…this government, as part of its activities to restore Guyana, ensures that there are several major projects, projects that are important for our development, and projects that would create employment and ensure sustained economic growth,” he said.
Lumumba explained that it is not the intention of the government to “browbeat” the opposition; rather it is to service the people of Guyana.
“We are an open government, we are a democratic government. Our government involves everyone,” he said.
The MP called for the opposition to play a more responsible role in governance and develop alternatives to what the current administration has – an alternative to the budget, which reflects an understanding of economics of growth and development of the country.
“We have had difficult times in Guyana, but this government has moved us from difficult times and put us in good times,” he stressed.