– says he is ‘baffled’ by Budget cuts

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar yesterday slammed the parliamentary political Opposition, comprising the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), for its callous and brutal assault on several crucial national developmental projects in Budget 2014.

“The Opposition has demonstrated by their cuts that they are opposed to development. This is evident by the fact that they are attacking important national infrastructural and developmental projects for narrow and selfish political interest,” President Ramotar told the Chronicle in an invited comment.
The President said he is ‘baffled’ as to the reason behind the Opposition cutting “willy nilly” some of the most important projects in the budget.

He also expressed alarm at the Opposition’s obvious ‘double standard’ whereby, on one hand, they are voicing their support for a sector such as Tourism; yet on the other hand, they are cutting the important Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project, which is crucial to the development of tourism in Guyana.
The APNU and AFC, in their relentless efforts to cut funding for the expansion and modernisation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, have also cut funding for the upgrading of hinterland and coastal airstrips, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ogle Aerodrome. This, according to a statement yesterday from the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), is a complete departure from what they (the Opposition) said they wanted with regard to hinterland development. These airstrips provide a vital mechanism for the safe and timely delivery of food and medical supplies to hinterland residents and for expansion of local trade which would bolster the economy and create jobs.
On the devastating cut to the Amerindian Development Fund, President Ramotar said it is obvious the Opposition wants to condemn the residents of the interior to live in perpetual poverty like the days when the PNC were in Government. “How can anyone explain their cuts to the Amerindian Development Fund and the CJIA projects?” Mr Ramotar questioned.
On Thursday, the combined Opposition voted against the entire $1.1B capital budget for the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.
The PPP/C Government remains adamant that this denying of such crucial funds allocated for Amerindian development is pellucidly demonstrative of the uncaring attitude and hypocritical stance by the Opposition towards Guyana’s indigenous people.
Only a few days ago, Leader of the PNC and the Opposition, Mr. David Granger, bemoaned what he called a lack of development in the hinterland Regions, more specifically, to use his words, “West of Essequibo”. Prior to that, a senior member of APNU called for municipal airports in the hinterland to improve the provision of services in those areas. Less than a week after they have joined with the AFC and voted to deprive Amerindians and other hinterland residents of the very projects they called for.
The allocation of the $1.1B as capital expenditure is indicative of the importance the PPP-led government places on Amerindians. This follows a plethora of interventions over the years under the Administration, including the establishment of a Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, to improve the lives of Guyana’s first people.

SPECIALTY HOSPITAL
Commenting on the draconian cut to the Health budget, President Ramotar declares: “The Opposition baffles me with the fact that they cut important health projects in Guyana such as the Mabaruma hospital, Regional and Clinical health services…the ambulances, and the new Specialty Hospital that we are building.”
“I don’t know if they are defending any special interest?”, he quipped.
The President also alluded to the fact that the Opposition, in its quest to deny all Guyanese the opportunity to access modernised and specialised health care through the Specialty Hospital, have not even taken into consideration that in cutting the funding for this much needed hospital from the 2014 budget, they have heartlessly denied the provision of Regional and Clinical health services.

Meanwhile, augmenting the sentiments expressed by President Ramotar, the PPP/C reiterated that the Specialty Hospital is intended to provide specialised modern health services which only those who are financially endowed can readily afford. Those who lack the financial capacity to seek these services are assisted through the Ministry of Health. The challenge with this assistance, is that it is an additional cost to the treasury and may not be timely since some patients have to be flown overseas. These challenges would be mitigated with the establishment of such a hospital here and would ensure that all Guyanese, regardless of their financial status, would be given the opportunity to readily access these services. No one can therefore dispute the tremendous benefits this hospital would be to not only persons residing here, but to others beyond our shores.

FLABBERGASTED!
The Guyanese Head of State also told the Chronicle yesterday he is “totally flabbergasted” that the Opposition would want to cut these and other projects, including one that entails the rehabilitation/building of community roads across the country.
“This action by the Opposition displays a total lack of sensitivity and it demonstrates that they have absolutely no concern for the welfare of the people,” the President commented.

(By Mark Ramotar)