Ramjattan, Nagamootoo clarify AFC position on provisions
TWO leaders of the Alliance For Change  (AFC) have denied charges, by the Government, that the political party  had acted recklessly and irresponsibly in refusing to approve aspects of financial papers for supplementary provisions on Current and Capital Estimates. One of them, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan said, Wednesday, that the AFC had joined with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to insist that adequate details be provided for the projects before they could give their support.
He pledged AFC support for a development-oriented parliamentary agenda at their weekly media briefing.
Ramjattan said the AFC has every confidence that the 10th Parliament of Guyana will deliver on its mandate to serve in the best interest of all the people of Guyana.
The AFC, he said, believes that, if given a fair opportunity, the 10th Parliament will see the introduction of a more advanced, inclusive form of governance, one where all the people of Guyana feel that their concerns are being addressed by their leaders.
Ramjattan said that the AFC will, in the course of the life of this Parliament, present motions and bills to the House, which it hopes its colleagues will, objectively, critique, with the intention that, at the end of the deliberations, can offer the people of Guyana a better product.
He said, where necessary, the AFC will question the government, in an objective manner, much as it had done in its presentations during the debate on Financial Papers 7 and 8/2011.
Ramjattan explained: “Our questions on these two papers had been confined to four items. We believe it is our duty, as elected representatives of the people, to ask the questions the people on the streets and in the market places and in their homes, are asking.”
He said the AFC intends to work with the other political parties in  Parliament to ensure that the end results of the deliberations in that body are, ultimately, for the development of all Guyana.

CONFIDENCE
Ramjattan said, too, that, at this point and because of the level of confidence the AFC has in the Tripartite Talks with the government and APNU, his party anticipates that the 2012 national budget may not be as big a challenge as some see.
That is provided the committee, set up under the tripartite arrangement to look at the budget, steps up the work it is expected to do, he said.
“There must be more than talks of commitment. This is time for action. The AFC has identified its representatives for the budget talks and our people are standing by,” Ramjatan affirmed.
Mr. Moses Nagamootoo said the AFC had refused to approve the expenditure, because the only details provided were  four words ‘ Provision for additional inflows’.
He declared there is no way anyone, no matter how erudite he or she may be,  could deduce, from those four words, what are the details of the programmes being presented for approval.
Nagamootoo said the AFC was prepared to compromise on the issue because it recognised that Government has to govern and has to be provided with financial support.
He emphasised that the AFC was not uncompromisingly oppositional.
“We welcome the specialist hospital.We  welcome the roll on/ roll off ferries. We welcome the extension of the telecoms sector. We  welcome any item that constitutes developmental programmes for the  people, that could bring benefits for the Guyanese people,” he stated.
Nagamootoo said: “To the extent that any financial provisions are reasonable and have explanations, as required by law, we are not going to and will not block the approval of any such items.”