.jpg)
ESSEQUIBIANS were brought up to speed with the provisions of the recently presented 2013 National Budget and the ensuing debate during a meeting with residents and Minister in the Ministry of Finance Juan Edghill, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud, at the Cotton Field Secondary School in Anna Regina. 
The Region Two residents heard, yesterday, that budget 2013 is intended to build on the 20-year foundation laid by the PPP/C administration, as well as to continue the laying of a sound foundation for the next generation of Guyanese.
Minister Edghill, while outlining the measures provided, stated that “Budget 2013 came in a context, a context that did not just drop out of the sky (but) it was building on what was already there.”
He pointed out that, more specifically, budget 2013 seeks to build on the past few years of positive growth. “Guyana over the last seven, eight years would have been experiencing positive growth; there is soundness in our economy, and those things did not just happen, that was the result of calculated, deliberate and responsible actions that were done over a period of time to ensure Guyana continues to be stable. So this budget that you should be proud of, is one that comes in a context of continuity…we are building upon what has already been there,” he said.
Budget 2013 addresses the continued development of the traditional sectors, and the fostering of growth of the new and emerging sectors. There are also allocations for transformative projects like the Amalia Falls hydro, and the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Minister Edghill explained that whilst the benefits of these transformative projects may not be seen immediately, the impact will be great in the future, and budget 2013 provisions for these projects provide for laying of the foundation or the securing of the future for Guyana’s children and their children.
“Do not let anybody fool you and tell you that Government is wasting the money to expand the airport, and getting works for their friends, and building Marriott Hotel. These are transformative projects that, once completed, would change lives,” Minister Edghill told the gathering.
On March 25, Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh presented budget 2013 to the National Assembly and Minister Edghill mentioned that positive feedbacks have been received from the private sector and the man in the street, many of whom have dubbed the 2013 budget as a ‘people’s budget.’
Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall also enlightened the Region Two residents about what the budget entails, as well as the Opposition’s reaction to budget 2013.
“The Budget is now before the National Assembly, the debate is going on, and I can tell you that …the only people I hear bad-talking the budget are 33 persons sitting down in the Opposition seat,” the Minister said.
Nandlall also alluded to the sentiments expressed by his colleague Minister, Edghill, that the budget is one for the ordinary working class. “In that document we ensure that it addresses the problems of the Guyanese people, we cast the net wide enough to include every conceivable class and category of people in our country,” he said.
The Legal Affairs Minister said Government has ensured that the Budget had sufficient provisions for each category of persons in the country.
In this light, Minister Nandlall said it was inconceivable that the Opposition has been saying in the Parliament, and in the media, that budget 2013 has nothing for the people. The minister said that budget 2013 has $208.8B for the people.
“You will not find Bishop Edghill’s name in that Budget, you will not find Anil Nandlall’s name in that Budget, it got roads, it got bridges…who is going to benefit from that?” he questioned.
He pointed out that should the Opposition deny or cut the budget it will not go down well with their supporters as there is much in the budget for them also. “Their own supporters, if they go up to Linden now and tell the Lindeners, we are going to reject the budget, they are going to get lash, because that budget got $2.9B for Linden electricity subsidy, which translates into $29,000 per month for every Lindener,” he explained.
Minister Nandlall stated that the Opposition’s behaviour in the National Assembly and lack of support for this ‘people-budget’ only serves to show their intent of using their power to fight political battles, and not for the good of the Guyanese people.
“Point to me a single thing that the Opposition has done with their one-seat majority for the benefit of the Guyanese people,” he asked. He pointed out that cutting the Budget will not help anyone.
The minister said it was inconceivable that all over the world Oppositions use their power in parliament to force Governments to increase spending, while those in Guyana are bent on reducing spending.
Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud mentioned that this year the region has been allocated $125M to be spent on agriculture, $91M on public works of which $46 will be spent on internal road construction, rehabilitation and upgrade, $66M on education and $80M on health. (GINA)
The Region Two residents heard, yesterday, that budget 2013 is intended to build on the 20-year foundation laid by the PPP/C administration, as well as to continue the laying of a sound foundation for the next generation of Guyanese.Minister Edghill, while outlining the measures provided, stated that “Budget 2013 came in a context, a context that did not just drop out of the sky (but) it was building on what was already there.”
He pointed out that, more specifically, budget 2013 seeks to build on the past few years of positive growth. “Guyana over the last seven, eight years would have been experiencing positive growth; there is soundness in our economy, and those things did not just happen, that was the result of calculated, deliberate and responsible actions that were done over a period of time to ensure Guyana continues to be stable. So this budget that you should be proud of, is one that comes in a context of continuity…we are building upon what has already been there,” he said.
Budget 2013 addresses the continued development of the traditional sectors, and the fostering of growth of the new and emerging sectors. There are also allocations for transformative projects like the Amalia Falls hydro, and the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Minister Edghill explained that whilst the benefits of these transformative projects may not be seen immediately, the impact will be great in the future, and budget 2013 provisions for these projects provide for laying of the foundation or the securing of the future for Guyana’s children and their children.
“Do not let anybody fool you and tell you that Government is wasting the money to expand the airport, and getting works for their friends, and building Marriott Hotel. These are transformative projects that, once completed, would change lives,” Minister Edghill told the gathering.
On March 25, Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh presented budget 2013 to the National Assembly and Minister Edghill mentioned that positive feedbacks have been received from the private sector and the man in the street, many of whom have dubbed the 2013 budget as a ‘people’s budget.’
Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall also enlightened the Region Two residents about what the budget entails, as well as the Opposition’s reaction to budget 2013.
“The Budget is now before the National Assembly, the debate is going on, and I can tell you that …the only people I hear bad-talking the budget are 33 persons sitting down in the Opposition seat,” the Minister said.
Nandlall also alluded to the sentiments expressed by his colleague Minister, Edghill, that the budget is one for the ordinary working class. “In that document we ensure that it addresses the problems of the Guyanese people, we cast the net wide enough to include every conceivable class and category of people in our country,” he said.The Legal Affairs Minister said Government has ensured that the Budget had sufficient provisions for each category of persons in the country.
In this light, Minister Nandlall said it was inconceivable that the Opposition has been saying in the Parliament, and in the media, that budget 2013 has nothing for the people. The minister said that budget 2013 has $208.8B for the people.
“You will not find Bishop Edghill’s name in that Budget, you will not find Anil Nandlall’s name in that Budget, it got roads, it got bridges…who is going to benefit from that?” he questioned.
He pointed out that should the Opposition deny or cut the budget it will not go down well with their supporters as there is much in the budget for them also. “Their own supporters, if they go up to Linden now and tell the Lindeners, we are going to reject the budget, they are going to get lash, because that budget got $2.9B for Linden electricity subsidy, which translates into $29,000 per month for every Lindener,” he explained.
Minister Nandlall stated that the Opposition’s behaviour in the National Assembly and lack of support for this ‘people-budget’ only serves to show their intent of using their power to fight political battles, and not for the good of the Guyanese people.
“Point to me a single thing that the Opposition has done with their one-seat majority for the benefit of the Guyanese people,” he asked. He pointed out that cutting the Budget will not help anyone.
The minister said it was inconceivable that all over the world Oppositions use their power in parliament to force Governments to increase spending, while those in Guyana are bent on reducing spending.
Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud mentioned that this year the region has been allocated $125M to be spent on agriculture, $91M on public works of which $46 will be spent on internal road construction, rehabilitation and upgrade, $66M on education and $80M on health. (GINA)
