Minister Whittaker warns Opposition against Budget cuts

MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker appealed to the Opposition during the 2014 Budget Debate in the National Assembly Wednesday night, not to “derail” Guyana’s progress.

“Something that works, don’t try to fix it, you’re not good at that,” he admonished the other side of the House.

According to him, Budget 2014 contains a menu of measures to, undoubtedly, create a better Guyana for all the people of this country.
“The Guyanese people will not forgive you; history will not absolve you,” Whittaker said, referring to the Opposition’s hints at cuts to the 2014 Estimates.
The Minister said it would seem that the Opposition is “embarrassed” by the continued progress and development under the current Administration, which is why their Members of Parliament (MPs) are seeking, in their contributions to the debate, to downplay the successes recorded.
“Progress and development must not be stymied by personal interest,” he cautioned.
The Minister emphasised that Budget 2014 will improve the lives of all Guyanese, as it represents an investment in the country’s people, the nation’s true wealth.
Whittaker said it would seem that the Opposition is blind to the fact that Budget 2014 is a good one.
“The Budget is one with something for everyone, look and you will see,” he urged.
The Minister added that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has always viewed the Budget as an important planning tool, which sets out the Government’s vision for developmental advances.
“Respectability has been restored and our people enjoy a higher standard of living than in 70s and 80s,” he argued, as he underscored the eight consecutive years of growth Guyana experienced.
Primary objective
Whittaker maintained that the Guyanese economy has experienced eight consecutive years of growth, up to 2013 and is projected to expand by a further 5.6 percent in 2014. With growth estimated at 5.6 percent, the non-sugar economy is calculated to grow by 5.2 percent. Monetary policy primary objective continues to be price stability and, for the year 2014, an inflation rate of 5 percent is targeted. The overall balance of payment is estimated to record an overall deficit of US$21.9M in 2014, compared to a deficit of US$119.5M in 2013.
“The Opposition is moving to affect our momentum,” he charged, pointing to the successes in many areas, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“This is impact!” he asserted.
The Minister argued, too, that contrary to the Opposition’s complaints, there has been consultation with the masses of stakeholders.
“The other side thinks consultation is a one off something before the budget…for us it is a year long process, when we reach out to people wherever they are gathered to listen to views and recommendations,” he said.
Minister Whittaker upbraided the Opposition for not heeding Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh’s invitation for consultations.
The Finance Minister, last week, said: “It is a matter of public record we invited the Opposition parties on several occasions and they failed to turn up.”
He disclosed that his recent e-mail, dated January 13, 2014, extended Government’s invitation to meet on Budget 2014 and requested A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member Carl Greenidge to suggest a date.
Dr. Singh said the e-mail was also copied to Opposition Leader David Granger, Lance Carberry, Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon and Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira and it also contained copies of documents to be discussed.
Stony silence
However, the invitation was met with stony silence by Granger and Greenidge, the Finance Minister lamented.
Further, he said in February 2014, there was still no response from the Parliamentary Opposition parties to government’s invitation to participate in pre-budget consultations.
Whittaker lauded the support of the many other stakeholders, in particular, representative groups which did engage the Government in consultations on Budget 2014.
“PPP/C budgets have been working for all of us…they have brought us positive results,” the minister reported.
He said that consultations are what keeps the Government informed of the needs of the people and strengthens the relationship of the current Administration with the people.
“We have a strong relationship with the people…the re-election to office for the last two decades is proof of that,” Whittaker said.

(By Vanessa Narine)