GIVING an overall view of the 2013 National Budget debate which concluded Wednesday evening, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said he was disappointed and concerned about the Opposition approved motions to cut the funding of several key, transformational projects.

“There were some disappointments in Wednesday’s proceedings, in particular the major disappointment was the imposition of the cut against the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), the GRIF funded projects which included the Amaila Falls Project, the Amerindian Development Fund Project, the Amerindian Land Demarcation Project, the Small Business and Micro Enterprise Project, all very important projects”.
The minister said he was very concerned at the Opposition’s refusal to consider Government’s arguments in support of the affected projects and programmes. “I thought the explanations offered were imminently clear, and I thought that the compelling merits of these projects would have influenced them in approving them. That was not to be.” It was significant, he noted, however, that many of Government’s proposed projects and programmes were approved in parliament.
Minister Singh opined that Budget 2013 remains a good menu of policies and interventions for Guyana, and they will continue to take Guyana forward. He expressed the hope that the political Opposition reconsiders their positions and the affected projects can be reinstated with unanimous support as soon as possible. “None of those cuts were justified, it is very unfortunate that they persisted and perpetuated those cuts against the Guyanese people”
In brief remarks, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said he was feeling a bit deflated, but Government will get back to work on the process of developing Guyana.
“The cuts have gone to the core of our planning and development for the future; I certainly am feeling very sore, but we have to get going. Life continues, life goes on, and we will continue to work for the best of our nation and people”.