QUITE often, news from Guyana leaves more questions than answers. Hopefully, the Finance Minister is right that the 2013 budget will be different.

Perhaps, the budget will provide more emphasis and funds to lower the poverty level by expanding job creation through micro credit and community based cooperatives/ventures in agricultural and other economic projects.
Speaker Trotman is displeased with the budget debates, which was his responsibility to control. His solution is to now inject himself into what he called the executive function of any government. He will use international consultants for the “successful passage of budgets where there is a minority government”. Why not also one with an unruly opposition? Does Mr. Trotman now believe that he and the parties need help in governing themselves? When will the Finance Minister tell the opposition supporters what may be cut from the budget in order to add what the opposition wants?  Let voters know, who and what will be sacrificed.

Officials must spend at least half of their time ensuring policies are being implemented and seeking improvements to them. Minister Ganga Persaud spoke of Government’s zero-tolerance regarding contracts. When did he realize that the Works Committees and Engineers Departments were signing off on contracts inappropriately? Whether the work was eventually completed or not, the situation should not have been allowed to exist for so long.  There appears to be a tendency to be too lenient on some transgressors. This sends a bad message to all. Contractors with bad records should never be allowed to bid on subsequent jobs and should be placed on a central list of contractors with questionable records. Accountability and transparency must rule.