…says Minister Robert Persaud as budget cuts protests continue
Groups from the city and across the country converged on Parliament Building this afternoon in support of workers affected by Opposition cuts in the national budget 2012. The protesters described the cuts as an unrealistic, unprofessional and baseless move by the parliamentary opposition parties, the Alliance For Change and A Partnership for National Unity.
Addressing the large crowd from the tray of a  pick-up, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, said that the move by the opposition has hurt the country. He said that this has been proven by the many responses the government has been receiving from residents from all over Guyana. The minister noted that the cuts have placed many persons in difficult economic situations.
According to Minister Persaud, the Alliance For Change and A Partnership for National Unity have  brought shame and disgrace to the highest institution of the land( i.e.Parliament). The minister added that there are those who are now faced with the grim reality of regretting their actions at the  November 2011 elections when they voted for either the Alliance For Change or A Partnership for National Unity.
He recalled travelling to Berbice recently when supporters of the AFC informed him that they had sent messages to the leaders of the Alliance For Change demanding their votes back. However the minister noted that demanding a return of votes is not possible at this time; but those votes can be taken back five years from when the owners put them elsewhere.
He told the protesters that he reminded the Berbicians that the PPP/C, during the 2011  elections campaign’ had warned of true colours of the AFC. He reminded that they refused to listen.
Also addressing the protesters from the back of the open pick-up was Executive Secretary of the PPP/C , Zulfikar Mustapha. In his brief remarks he thanked the villagers and groups for adding their voices to the protest and assured them that the sounding of their voices will help to contribute to better days which are on the horizon.
The party executive noted that the presence of the communities shows their concern for something that has truly affected the masses of the country. He pointed out that the protests are only a beginning of the responses to the budget cuts, and encouraged them to continue their support which signals their approval for continued development in every sphere of Guyana. He cautioned that the Alliance For Change and A Partnership for National Unity wants to sink Guyana into poverty. According to Mustapha, the actions of the opposition are being well documented and they will be remembered for their every move and decision in  parliament.
Meanwhile, an Amerindian resident also spoke to the Guyana Chronicle about the cuts and its impact on his community
James Domingo said he was there to protest the cuts which are hampering development in his community which has 510 families.
In solidarity with the workers affected by the cuts, an East Bank Demerara resident, Bidjawaite Paul, told this publication that she chose to stand in solidarity with the affected companies and workers because of the amount of money the joint opposition had gutted from the budget.
She said that the opposition, rather than attempting to move forward with the business of the nation, they chose to be mired in the past.

Yesterday’s protest also saw several workers form the affected agencies, including the National Communications Network and the Government Information News Agency.
Some of the messages on the placards were: No billion dollar cuts; No more votes for AFC/APNU; Amerindians are entitled to Laptops; Hands off the LCDS now; AFC eyes pass the Amerindians; and What can $1 do for Amerindians?