THE position of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), regarding the repeated invitations for talks on the national budget, is that it is too late for any meaningful consultations.

However, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, in commenting on this stance, said that the position of the main opposition party on the matter is reflective of a “dereliction” of that party’s duty towards its constituencies.
Speaking at a press conference held at Freedom House, Robb Street, yesterday, he said, “To not engage in budget consultations is nothing less than a dereliction of duty to our workers and to the constituencies of the opposition parties which elected them as their voices.

“To not engage in budget consultations is nothing less than a dereliction of duty to our workers and to the constituencies of the opposition parties which elected them as their voices.” – Rohee

“… it is evident that Granger had instructed Greenidge to engage in consultations – just Greenidge choose to disobey him.  To save face Granger, instead of disciplining Greenidge, made the excuse that it is ‘too late’ for consultations.”
According to him, the “ever changing” position has been noted with great concern by the People’s Progressive Party.
Rohee said, “True to its agreeing antics, the APNU has been offering a plethora of excuses for not accepting to consult on budget 2014.
“First they were not invited, then when the APNU Leader, Granger, directed Member of Parliament Greenidge to engage he said that he needed more information and then finally it was that it was too late for consultations.”

POLITICAL GRANDSTANDING
The General Secretary noted that the “flimsy excuses” seem to indicate that the APNU is more interested in political grandstanding, rather than serving the interests of their constituents and the nation as a whole.
He said, “It is quite comical to hear the APNU, only a few weeks ago, declaring 2014 boldly as “Year of the Worker” but weeks later, when the workers’ interests would be best served by budget consultations, APNU turns its back on the very workers.
“The annual budget is the single most important government intervention which impacts on the lives of our country’s workers and their families.
“…this opposition’s political grandstanding and continuously shifting of the goalpost on budget 2014 consultation only serves to divide and sow discord and discontent.”
Rohee stressed that APNU’s position “hurts rather than helps” the people of Guyana and the development of the country.
“Division and discord are tools commonly used by the PNC and which they seek to inflict on the wider society,” he said. “The People’s Progressive Party in giving meaning to our constitution has devolved in favour of consultative democracy in Guyana.”

COMMITMENT TO CONSULTATION
The General Secretary made it clear that it could never be too late for consultation.
“At the very heart of the PPP is its commitment to consultation and its conviction that decisions made based on consultations, would stand the test of time,” he stressed.
Rohee called for all stakeholders who have been invited to engage in the 2014 Budget consultations to take the opportunity to engage the Minister of Finance to the fullest, with respect to their ideas and to negotiate on behalf of their constituents.

(By Vanessa Narine)