…The opposition behaved reckless and irresponsible
LEADER of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, has registered the government’s disappointment and astonishment at the events that unfolded during yesterday’s sitting, which saw the opposition’s refusal to approve four aspects in financial paper number 7 for supplementary provisions on Current and Capital Estimates.
In addition, the combined opposition also requested that financial paper number 8 be amended and resubmitted to the House, to allow for more transparency, since according to opposition members,  the details of the project were not specified.
Hinds pronounced on these developments, late last evening, during a press briefing held in the Committee Room, subsequent to the adjournment of the National Assembly. He was joined by the Finance Minister, Ashni Singh and Presidential Advisor on Governance on Gail Teixeira.
“I am very disappointed in how things went in the house, in particular four of our heads were not carried for replenishment of the contingencies fund,” he said.
He explained that the government also found it “astonishing” that monies that were spent in hosting the investiture for the orders of Guyana, were  disallowed, along with expenditure on the swearing in of the new President, which when taken together,  formed the bulk of the expenditure on that year.
The first item in section “A” of Financial Paper Number 7, which requested a supplementary provision of $25,500,000 for the provision for expenditure associated with the conferment of National Awards and other events hosted by the state, was not passed yesterday.
Another issue of government concern was the fact that Financial Paper number 8 was not considered.
As to the implications of this, Hinds said, “We know that things came to collapse on the issue of the standard arrangements to bring into the consolidated fund the monies that have been advanced on the foreign funded projects, and as Ashni explained, this is just a matter of a book entry, bringing these monies into the books of our country.”
He maintained that there could be no question of the transparency of details of the foreign funded projects for which the provisions are sought, since the information required can be found on the websites of the donor agencies and government websites.

Some details, he added, can also appear in the National Budget under Capital Projects.
“I think that it was very astonishing that they would hold out that we should return with these proposals. They are arguing that this may not be a matter of substance, but a matter of formatting. I think that Dr. Singh argued very eloquently and persuasively that the sections in the Fiscal Management Act they (members of the opposition) were appealing to were not applicable,” the Prime Minister stated.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Dr.Ashni Singh, in his remarks,  said the matter of bringing financial papers before the Parliament for approval is a process that is governed by applicable law, and that has the benefit of an honoured Parliamentary custom, practised over the years proceeding the tenth Parliament during the government’s successive terms in office.
“Financial papers have been brought before the Parliament both to seek original supplementary appropriations and to clear advances made in the contingency fund, and for the purpose of replenishing these funds”, the minister added.
He explained that the manner in which the papers were brought to the Parliament is not a case of “innovativeness” from year to year, but it is a standard, well-established, timely process that is followed.
The Finance Minister is of the view that the two financial papers brought before the House are simple and straightforward ones, the first one to clear advances made from the contingencies fund, and the second to seek supplementary appropriation.
“We had the most astonishing and alarming result that the opposition would combine to withhold approval of very legitimate expenditure incurred in accordance with the law”, he pointed out.
He said what took place in Parliament yesterday was the coming together of APNU and AFC to withhold approving expenditure that was incurred from the contingencies fund in accordance with the law.
Most importantly he said the expenses were incurred in delivering goods and services to the Guyanese people.
Minister Singh expressed disappointment with the fact that some of the items in financial paper number 7 were not approved that in his views were transparent and simple.
With what has been displayed in the National Assembly, he said one has to seek answers as to what purpose can approval be withheld on such matters, and concluded  that it was done for the purpose of “political grandstanding”, and showing what can be done with a parliamentary majority. He also questioned what other purpose can be sought by withholding approval.
With regard to financial paper number 8, of which all are related with foreign inflows, none of the items were related to domestic resources. Minister Singh further explained that all of the items were related to a donor agency or a development partner who had disbursed more than was anticipated at the time of the National budget.
“Again, to our amazement, they took the position that they were not going to approve this paper notwithstanding our assurances that we were prepared to answer any questions and provide additional information that they require”, Dr. Singh pointed out.
In his view, he said there can be no other conclusion than the actions of the combined opposition are to stymie the legitimate work of the Government.  He said the legitimate work of the Government which will bring benefit to the Guyanese people will be frustrated if allowed to succeed. He said there can be no reason behind the position taken by the opposition except to stymie development of the Government and this therefore should be seen for what it is and strongly condemned. He said what took place in the House tells a different story of the opposition working along with the government. “I think the real hand of the opposition was disclosed today as it relates to cooperation and willingness to collaborate”, he added.
Presidential Adviser on Governance and Member of Parliament Gail Teixeira echoed similar sentiments.
According to Ms Teixeira, the behaviour of the opposition “is nothing but reckless and highly irresponsible”.
She explained that the opposition has not only disappointed the Government but also the people of Guyana.