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Government’s focus on the 2013 budget, which will be presented by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on March 25, will remain on accelerating economic growth and social development, with continued emphasis on macroeconomic stability and preserving the conditions that are conducive to attracting investment, expanding and upgrading physical infrastructure, expanding access and improving quality of social services, and strengthening the institutional and regulatory environment.
Budget 2013 will reflect the PPP/C’s overriding concern with making steady improvements in the standard of living enjoyed by every citizen of Guyana, and with creating and expanding opportunities for personal upliftment and betterment.
Minister Ali said that calls for budget cuts by the political opposition, which last year slashed about $21B from the budget, are irresponsible. “I’m saying that a budget is presented to have a national debate and to have a genuine review and effort to develop Guyana”.
He noted that the AFC has, for example, submitted proposals to boost areas that its members would like to see monies spent on in the short- to medium-term, yet they are still persisting with threats to cut the budget.
Apart from those workers whom potential budgets cuts may affect, potential investors will also be alarmed by such posturing, he said. Statements being made by the political opposition can have far-reaching implications, noted Minister Ali. “We cannot develop a budget that may look sexy in the public’s eyes, or develop a budget that makes the Finance Minister or government very popular… that will take us back (to) the days when we had zero reserves, etc.”
He added that some of the ideas which may seem attractive now can have serious short- and long-term implications.
“Budget 2013 would define, more importantly, where politicians, especially those from the opposition, stand,” Minister Ali said.
The minister noted that the political opposition is attempting to lay what he described as a “foundation of excuses”. Citing the move by APNU’s Carl Greenidge to disrupt the ongoing consultations, he said this cannot be a mere coincidence, given that his party has withdrawn from the exercise. The AFC clearly intends to not apply any analytical review or rational evaluation to the upcoming budget, added Minister Ali in response to recent utterances by party leader Khemraj Ramjattan.
“If that is the way he is going to define his action, it sends a strong message to the people out there that, even if he’s genuine, he was not even genuine in the consultation process”.
Ali said that with Ramjattan having experience with the historical occurrence in 2012, his thinking should have been rationalised. This move sends mixed signals to the business and private sectors, the minister said, and these signals will not build any confidence.
“There must be a level of responsibility as we examine this 2013 budget,” he urged.
Any such move will not just target the government, but the entire country, as all of the sectors are interconnected. “A budget is not only a government tool; it is a national good, a nation’s policy position that defines where the country is going”. Thus it is highly irresponsible to make such statements, as politicians are entrusted by the people to define the national framework through which the country will advance, he said.
It is the responsibility of the nation’s leaders to look at the National Budget from a nationalistic window, and not from a selfish, narrow political issue.
In closing, Minister Ali said that good sense should prevail, and the national good should be the guiding principle through which Budget 2013 is approached, as “We should dissuade ourselves from self-interest and place the national interest at the top of our priorities; and having done that, I am more than confident that good sense would prevail, and we will have a budget that would meet the expectations of the people, and we will have support across the board.” (GINA)
