NO one needs to repeat the fact that the almost $22b in cuts, effected to the 2012 national budget have begun to take their toll. Could one imagine that the most important office of the land, the Executive, is also affected by the vindictive action of a bunch of opposition miscreants parading as leaders and representatives of the people? It stands to reason that the President has to lead, especially after given the mandate to do so. But that he must be able to carry this out with all the necessary resources goes without any shred of doubt. Except that the opposition does not feel so. How on earth, do they expect the will of the nation to be carried out in the manner as expected?
Well, for all the patience that the President has displayed to the point of magnanimity, there had to be a point at which he would have commenced to uphold his authority, given the current circumstances. Thus, it was no surprise when he frankly announced that he was not going to assent to any bill which did not have inputs from his government. It was about time that he confronted these anti-nationalists and enemies of progress.
Now, Khemraj Ramjattan, AFC leader is howling about the risk of a constitutional crisis, should the President not give assent to such bills.
Imagine, this party leader bleating about a constitutional crisis and gridlock! Has he forgotten that it was the AFC and APNU’s combined tabled motion that is definitely responsible for the shifting of the nation close to the precipice? Has he forgotten, what those cuts have meant for vital socio-economic programmes, such as the LCDS, and the OLTPF strategies? Then what about the economic livelihoods of some 300 staff, young people, many of them with family responsibilities and commitments? Who will forget the bombast of both he and Carl Greenidge when they both declared unapologetically about the cuts?
As President, Donald Ramotar has the right to effect any measure that is judged to be within the nation’s best interests. The final responsibility is his. Guyana has to move forward and not be held hostage by a collection of charlatans.