MINISTER within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Mr. Norman Whittaker, on Thursday night, deemed the Opposition speakers who preceded him in the debate on the 2012 national budget in National Assembly as “discriminatory and uninformed.” He said, while they can see nothing progressive emanating from the estimates, according to universally accepted economic indicators, Guyana has been doing well.
Earlier, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP), Ms. Jennifer Wade, said that there is no improvement in the standard of living for those in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) and much more could have been achieved.
However, in his rebuttal, Whittaker said that development is a process that does not happen overnight.
“If the Honourable Member Jennifer Wade could understand that, then she could appreciate why it is that you cannot always have delivered projects that you may want, needs that you may wish satisfied at the time when you want them,” he said.
Whittaker admitted that government will not be able to meet all of the requirements of the people at the same time and persons need to accept that reality.
“The budget has been, for us, a tool which we have effectively, efficiently utilised over the years and we have, consistently and persistently, pursued a policy of development which offers opportunities for all, but the Opposition needs to come on board and not stay on the sideline,” the minister offered.
Equal opportunities
With regard to Opposition remarks that their plans were not reflected in it, Whittaker said: “The budget process is guided by the process of equal opportunities and upliftment for all and by our focus on continuing to work to remove poverty.”
He said the administration conducted extensive public consultations and forged strategies, such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) and its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and, based on the results of such engagements, provisions were made in the budget out of the best interest of the people.
APNU MP, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, in his contribution, said the budget presentation was a performance but Whittaker said the only performance is that coming from the economy.
The latter said the economy’s performance has been par excellence, adding that the 2006 Budget was $102.9 billion; $192.8 billion in 2012 and its real growth in 2011 was 5.7 percent, at a time when the economies of CARICOM were struggling to achieve 1 percent growth and many in Europe and North America were experiencing difficulties.
Despite this reality, Whittaker said the Opposition claimed that government’s programmes and policies are not working.
He said that these indicators are showing, for those who have eyes to see, that the country’s economy has been improving, as the impressive gains and services can only be explained by the policies, plans, programmes and objectives of the current administration.
Whittaker debunked what Roopnarine said, that rice production has, indeed, increased under this Administration, but was due to factors outside the government.
The minister maintained that rice performed because of a number of factors that were implemented by government.
He cited more cultivation and the fact that greater yields have been obtained that can withstand natural circumstances.
Very important
Whittaker said a lot of resources have been put into drainage and irrigation (D&I) and government continuing to improve it is very important and timely since the rice sector is poised for major expansion.
The minister answered Roopnarine, stating that a lot of what is done centrally should be handled in the Regions and Government cannot go outside the existing legislation.
Whittaker said Sections 28:01 and 28:02 of Chapter 12, 1980, were developed by the People’s National Congress and it has to be that the PNC wanted to put a leash on the local government bodies.
He said he finds it difficult to understand and appreciate that the PNC did not factor in the kind of changes in the legislation that they want to see today.
“We would like to see that happen and have been taking steps towards that, all of what you are asking for today is not covered by the existing legislation and we have to start by understanding that,” Whittaker insisted.
He said, while government views the holding of local government elections as integral to improving the level of services in the communities, whilst waiting on the Opposition for a consensus, at its level, the ministry  has been taking steps to empower and build capacity.
“We are of the view that many of the local government staff are not performing but, when we take steps to relocate them with the expectancy that, perhaps, there would be a renewed enthusiasm and vigour, while we take time to train them and replace the number of councillors in areas where they are depleted, you do not allow us to do that,” Whittaker told the Opposition.
Concerning the finances allocated to the regions being insufficient, he said that MPs must understand that every region cannot get the same allocation, as the allocating of resources are dependent on a number of factors, principally, what is available and their ability to utilise it.
Linden electricity
In defence of the proposed electricity tariff increase in Linden, Whittaker told the Assembly that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has reached out, overtime, to assist the people of that township.
“While government was providing electricity subsidies in Linden, Guyanese in many other parts were paying a tariff that was 10 times higher than that being paid in Linden…it was inevitable that, with rising fuel prices, the low electricity tariff charged to consumers would have to be adjusted with the national rate…we could not continue to, perennially, subsidise the cost of electricity in Linden at that level,” he explained.
Whittaker said government, for many years,had bailed out the bauxite industry in Linden to safeguard the jobs of Lindeners.
“The PNC brought in an Australian group to close the industry but the PPP/C kept it alive to keep the jobs of the people of Linden and of Kwakwani…we have been subsidising electricity costs for those two communities from time immemorial,” he said.
Replying to the Opposition allegation that the rate hike was because Linden did not vote for the Administration, Whittaker said that the town, currently, receives more support than any other community.
On a per capita basis, Lindeners receive more assistance from the PPP/C government than many other communities, he reiterated.
“We are aware that, along the road towards realising development for the country, hard choices and decisions are to be made and the Administration stands ready to accept that and rise above the challenges that they will meet. Its record of achievements is there for all to see,” he said further.
Whittaker said those who scheme, daily, to frustrate the genuine efforts of the government to transform the social and economic landscape of the country into one that opens, continuously, opportunities for all, have little to offer and less to add.