Nagamootoo, Nadir in lively exchange over estimates
THE Alliance for Change (AFC) has called on the Government to cut spending outside the social sector, stating that is the only way the party will support the fiscal package in the 2012 Budget. The call was made by former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) executive member Moses Nagamootoo during the debate in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
He assured the House that the AFC will lend support to the Budget, once it meets the threshold of distributive justice, balance and equity.
The AFC MP admitted that there has been positive growth in Guyana, over the years and commended the Administration but contended that the growth is not balanced.
Nagamootoo announced that the AFC would be pushing for Government to make the Budget broadly acceptable and beneficial to Guyanese.
He has, therefore, urged the Government to “get the numbers right” if it is going to fix the country, adding that “the job begins now with making this a people’s budget.”
Nagamootoo said the 2012 estimates are taking more from Guyana than giving, a statement that PPP/C  Member of Parliament Manzoor Nadir deemed as coming from “a confused person”, as the two engaged in a lively exchange over the estimates.
Nadir said the country’s debt is half of what it was 20 years ago, due to the Government’s prudent management of the economy, which has not only seen many more jobs created but many of the working class being exempted from paying tax, due to the increase in the threshold.

ON COURSE
“This PPP/C Government has returned creditworthiness to the people of this country, taking it out of serious debt which the country was in prior to 1992. Mr. Speaker, we cannot do everything at the same time and what this sixth budget does is that it continues to keep us on course,” he maintained.
Nadir lauded the 4.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) projection, for this year, as more than manageable and clearly shows the management that the Government has brought to the economy.
Turning his attention to the increase in old age pension which is proposed, he said the move should be commendable as the average pensioner will receive three pensions, at 55 years of age Government pension; at 60 years National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and at 65 years an additional incentive from the State.

Nadir said the extent of the success in that regard would test whether the parliamentarians across the divide are nationalists or just petty hustlers who are unmindful and unresponsive to the needs of Guyanese.
He challenged all sides to use the minority status of Government to work together, citing the need for the creation of a proper budget that would ensure monies are allocated judiciously and in a balanced and proportionate manner.
Nadir advocated an end to platitudes, arrogance, disdainful politics and “cuss down” modes.
Nagamootoo claimed there is little or nothing for the jobless, pensioners and public servants who were not even promised a wage-hike.
Nadir, in his response, said that the Government’s effort at creating and sustaining jobs countrywide would result from the Administration’s fruitful programmes and policies, which have been thoughtfully crafted and implemented over the years, contrary to what the former PPP/C MP stated in his presentation.
Nagamootoo said the AFC would vote in favour of the budget if it justified their expectation as AFC would prefer not to press the country back to the polls which would be too expensive.

POLITICAL BLACKMAIL
“The Alliance for Change does not subscribe to nihilistic politics and does not wish to practise political blackmail or see a dead end that would send us back to the polls,” he stated.
Nagamootoo noted that fresh elections soon after last November’s poll would cost the treasury $2 billion for the Elections Commission, perhaps $2 billion from contesting parties and loss from business activities another $2 billion.
He believes that snap elections would be a costly thing the country can ill afford at a time when workers need wages, not waste.
The AFC wants even a minority government to govern and so it must get the required cash to do so after Parliament approves the spending, Nagamootoo said.
According to him, together they can correct the wrongs and do better for the people and their first interest is to ensure that the people’s gains made over many years are not eroded.