THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) is dismayed at a news story appearing in the Guyana Times of March 19 and titled “Urling fears opposition’s veto of security sector budget.” In the said article, Chamber President Clinton Urling was quoted as saying that he “foresees the opposition side of the national Assembly opposing a vast part of the 2013 national budget, despite its involvement in pre-budget discussions. The GCCI wishes to categorically state that at no time during the telephone interview between Mr Urling and the Guyana Times reporter was this assertion made or even implied.
Mr Urling’s position has been consistent with that of the GCCI and calls on all political parties represented in the National Assembly to engage in constructive dialogue and engagement aimed at converging positions ahead of budgetary presentations on March 25. Moreover, the Chamber is cognisant of the divergent views held by the parties concerned and does not expect blanket acceptance of the financial estimates presented by the Minister of Finance.
Additionally, the GCCI does not and cannot predict the outcome of any debate occurring in the National Assembly and the upcoming budgetary debates are no exception.
The Chamber president had commented to Guyana Times on the recent voting down of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill by the parliamentary opposition. This he said is an unwelcomed development,since the amendments go toward the improvement of the country’s security. However, no nexus between that position and the upcoming budgetary allocations on security was made.