HE has taken a long time to break his silence over the parliamentary opposition’s recent cutting frenzy of budgetary expenditures for 2012 that total approximately G$20 billion.
But on Friday, the former Guyana Head of State, Bharrat Jagdeo, came out swinging against what he has labeled as “a vindictive act,” specifically in relation to the slashing of $18 billion of anticipated funds from Norway for the government’s internationally recognised Low- Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) project.
Irrespective of their political affiliation or persuasion, Guyanese across this nation have come to realize how central is the government’s LCDS project to current and future economic development of the nation.
And, as the lead decision-maker at the time whose vision and commitment had made possible the unfolding of the LCDS, enabled by the significant partnership established with Norway, it was simply a matter of time before the former President let the Guyanese people know the extent of his own disappointment and hurt over the APNU/AFC coalition’s reckless budget-chopping approach in the National Assembly.
The former President, who has been Head of State for a dozen years (ten by two successive elected terms), chose the opportunity of the ceremonial commissioning of the spanking new headquarters  of the New Building Society (NBS) to let the public know the damaging social and economic consequences of the opposition’s budget slashing of LCDS-related funding.
To his credit, the former President steered clear of what some of his leading colleagues have already deemed petty and spiteful politicking by the one-seat majority APNU/AFC opposition, namely their constant emotional outbursts on Jagdeo’s pension package as approved by the previous parliament.
The political propaganda involving the ex-President’s pension package, enacted into the laws of Guyana, and the wide-ranging implications of the G$20 billion budget cuts will undoubtedly be among national issues of much relevance when the time comes — as it will — for the electorate of this nation to again democratically express themselves by the process of free voting.
Our Amerindian communities that could be severely affected by the budget cuts, and the constraints placed on the independent Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) are among matters of deep concern resulting from the chopping spree that has also jeopardized the employment of workers. Those who, unexpectedly, suddenly find themselves jobless, have been callously dismissed by the AFC’s chairman, Ramjattan, as “collateral damages.” Sad indeed!
Even in the face of such callousness and the political spite that motivated the budget-slashing spree, this newspaper prefers to hold out hope for some level of political maturity and national commitment that could yet result in new tripartite dialogues to prevent further damaging consequences for Guyana.