GOVERNMENT Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira yesterday, during the budget debate in the National Assembly, informed the House that while the budget reflects policy, it does not make policies, but is rather the means to the end to breathe life into policies.

“I have heard that we have catered for the poor and vulnerable, but not just for the poor and vulnerable…the elderly, Amerindians, disabled, children…and the budget reflects this policy. Budget doesn’t make policy, budget is the means to the end to take the policy and breathe life into it with three things – men, money and machines,” she stated.
She pointed out that a number of speakers on the opposition side scoffed about the government side speaking of living “the Guyana dream”.
However, she related that before 1992, people were dreaming and struggling for a time when there would be free and fair elections and for the restoration of democracy. Those dreams, she said, were scoffed at too.
“Our struggle for democracy, for free and fair elections, came to pass…all these dreams and they look a long time…these were not dreams that happened over night,” she remarked.
She also related that growing up, she always heard of the hydro potential of the country, which is now becoming a reality through the Amaila Falls Hydropwer Project.
Teixeira noted that A Partnership for National Unity’s Deborah Backer, in her presentation during the debate, had said that she (Teixeira) had “missed the boat”.
“I may have missed the boat, but the boat I am supporting knows exactly where it’s going…the canoe over that side seems to have too many paddlers that don’t seem to be paddling in the same direction…they better watch out they’re gonna overturn, at least I know my boat is on a steady flow,” she stressed.
She further stated that Guyana is challenged in many ways, but emphasised that the budget makes it clear that, as its theme reflects, “ we have to overcome our challenges together and we have to accelerate the gains.”
She stressed that the discussion and debate on the 2013 budget must be taken seriously.
“We’re not playing children’s games…we’re playing with a nation’s development and its future,” she said.
She noted that Guyana is challenged as a developing country, citing global warming and the fact that the country’s coastline is seven to nine feet below sea level.
“We will always have to pump money in drainage and irrigation. I heard one of the speakers talk about $7B into D&I not being effectively used. If it’s not being efficiently used, let’s see how we can make it do better, but we do not want to go back to the days when there was no money going into D&I…” she challenged.
Teixeira also acknowledged that there are issues and challenges faced internally by the country.
“We don’t have enough people for the task and jobs we have to do today…therefore we must embrace other peoples, other skills to work with us and build our nation,” she added.
However, as it related to migration of Guyanese to foreign countries, she advised that this has reduced significantly over the years.
She noted that between 1974 and 2004, 87,993 Guyanese left the country as permanent residents to Canada, the average being 6,000 odd per annum. From 1997 onwards, however, there has been a 55 percent decline in the average migration to Canada.
In addition, between 1959 and 2004, 253,895 persons migrated to the United States, with the highest years being 1982, 1986,1987,1990 and 1991. However, between 1998 and 2000 this figure declined below 50 percent.
While Teixeira acknowledged that the government has not done everything perfectly, she said progress is nevertheless visible and palpable.
She further highlighted that the pro-poor and pro-growth policy of the government and its approach to national development started since before the 1992 elections, when it was preparing and anticipating that under free and fair elections, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) would win.
She stated that the housing sector is a dream that has come true for individual people, noting that it has also contributed to a boom in the construction and manufacturing industries as well.
In addition, she related that between 2006 to the present, some 50 percent of the house lots allocated have been given to single women or women by themselves.
She added that if those of the opposition do not understand what this means, they will lose the vote of the women, emphasizing that women are now empowered in the country for the first time.
“People on the other side say that PPP is a minority…but I remind this house that until the day one of the parties on the other side can have the single largest block of votes, the PPP/C is here and it’s here to stay,” she asserted.
Teixeira pointed out that opposition members have been expressing disapproval of the subsidies provided to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) under the 2013 budget, but she asked of them “what is the alternative?”
Additionally, she stated that issues have been raised about transparency and accountability and advised that Guyana has signed international treaties of the Inter American Convention Against Corruption, the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the six human rights treaties.
She stressed that on the UN Convention against Corruption, Guyana is up- to-date on the third cycle and will this year start the fourth cycle which will include an onsite visit to Guyana.
She pointed out that there are mechanisms in place for transparency and accountability, acknowledging that these can work better.
“I believe that we can find answers to these issues, if we talk to each other instead of playing games,” she said.