PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar’s initiative to summon a consultative

meeting for tomorrow with representatives of the parliamentary opposition and the governing PPP/C  to, hopefully, avoid unnecessary costly cuts in the 2013 national budget is a most welcome development – in Guyana’s best interest.
It would, we do believe, have the strong support of the vital private sector, legitimate and functioning trade unions, as well as the network of non-governmental organizations, and the religious denominations.
The maxim that without a vision the people shall perish if ignored at tomorrow’s meeting could prove quite disastrous for Guyana’s future economic and social advancement. The government and opposition have to demonstrate their commitment to avoid such a course.
The Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, had earlier lamented the failure of the opposition’s chief representative, Mr Carl Greenidge, to show up for invited consultation on the approximately $209 Billion budget, BEFORE readiness for presentation in order to avoid a repetition of the reckless cutting-spree that took place over last year’s budget.
The excuses offered could not, however, conceal the apparent plan by the APNU/AFC coalition to maintain their strategy of 2012 when they indulged in shocking displays of spiteful budgetary cuts with the recurring abuse of their ONE-seat majority in the 65-member parliament.
They did so to hurt the government’s expenditures on even social welfare projects and economic development initiatives that are essential for people across political affiliations or persuasion. In the end it is ‘THE PEOPLE’ that the immature APNU/AFC budget cutting spree were left to suffer and for whom the government had to find alternatives to cushion the burden. This, of course, is not always possible to do.
Last week, ahead of President Ramotar’s decision to arrange for tomorrow’s vital tripartite consultation process with the APNU/AFC and PPP/C representatives, Finance Minister Dr Singh made it quite clear that the cuts to the 2013 budget already proposed by the opposition “defy logic” and have “NO merit for good intentions towards the future of Guyana…”
Prior to the Finance Minister’s declaration, the President had signalled his own frustration over the disruptive tactics by the opposition to delay timely approval of the 2013 budget.
Therefore, should there be no SERIOUS efforts to reach bi-partisan cooperation on the 2013 budget, then the alternative choice for the democratically elected government seems clear to us: arrangements for a snap election this year. It’s one that requires serious consideration. Not just the government but the Guyanese nation in general should NOT be held to ransom by parliamentarians who seem bent on political vindictiveness. They are yet to offer constructive alternatives for improved governance, instead, offerings of rhetoric and abuse that contribute to sustaining ethnic and political divisions for narrow, personal objectives.
The Finance Minister has already pointed to examples of APNU’s failure to be supportive of budgetary measures consistent with that hybrid party’s own 2011 elections manifesto.
In the circumstances, we therefore feel, as noted earlier, that the time has come for an historic decisive development: Either an enlightened bi-partisan approach on passage of the  2013 budget, or  official arrangements for a snap general election.
We prefer the former approach–in the interest of continuing peace and stability with maintenance of Guyana’s unique record among CARICOM member states. It’s a record of continuing high economic growth rates, job creation and comparative impressive levels of local, regional and international investments. Let them ask the regional and international financial institutions and governments.