THE debates on the 2014 Estimates continue today and Government Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, at a press conference last Friday, noted that all of the speakers on the Government side to date have made exemplary contributions to the debates.

She said Government’s “big guns” will be featured today and tomorrow, when the debates are expected to conclude.
Teixeiraalso blasted the Opposition’s presentations as “vacuous” and indicative of a “disgraceful” level of debating, particularly considering the clashes between the parties in the House.
The Chief Whip addressed the live coverage of the debates and stated that the Guyanese people are better informed and aware of the kind of representation they are receiving in the National Assembly.
An impassioned Teixeira added that coming to the close of the 2014 debate, the true temperament of the combined Opposition is on show.
A record breaking 2014 Budget of $220M was presented to the National Assembly on March 24 by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, under the theme ‘A better Guyana for all Guyanese’ and includes a menu of measures to benefit the average Guyanese man and woman.
The Minister’s announcement that no new taxes will be introduced was very welcome, as was his announcements that old age pensions would be increased from $12,500 to $13,600 – up from $3,500 in 2006; old age pensioners would receive an annual electricity assistance of $30,000, an increase from $20,000; and a $10,000 allowance for each child in the public education system.
Among other measures Singh announced were: the allocation of $3.2B to meet the cost of maintaining the electricity subsidy in Linden and Kwakwani, Region 10; the allocation of $100M to advance technical and other assessments for capital works to Port Georgetown; and $1B for rehabilitation of critical interior roads, including the Linden to Lethem road.
Allocations to other major sectors saw an increase in this year’s Budget and include $3.7B to the Guyana Power and Light Company, to support critical capital expenditure and avoid increased tariffs for consumers; $1B for rural enterprise development; $6B for the sugar sector, to achieve a badly needed reversal of fortunes; an injection of $500M into the rice sector to support efforts to increase competitiveness and resilience; $200M for advancement of efforts in other agricultural areas; and an investment of $800M into the tourism industry for the establishment of a Hospitality Institute.
The debates on the 2014 Budget began on March 31.