THE new coalition Government yesterday approved in the National Assembly a motion for consideration of the estimates of revenue and expenditure for the 2015 budget within three days.The State budget for 2015 was not presented by the former PPP Government before demitting office in May, following free and fair elections. The new APNU+AFC Government presented its first budget, which included spending under the former Government as well as the remaining months of 2015.

The National Assembly not having met since August, 2014, when it went into recess and was subsequently prorogued by President Ramotar in the face of an Opposition no-confidence motion, the new Government tabled its budget during a boycott of Parliament by the PPP, now in Opposition.

The budget was subject to five full days of debate, for which the PPP returned to the National Assembly. The Government extended the time for debate, and by motion supported by the Opposition, debates started one hour earlier and were scheduled to end each day at 22:00 hrs.

The Government further sought to have judicious use of parliamentary time by putting in place a plan for agency-by-agency consideration of the estimates, to be done over three days between the extended hours of 1:00 pm and 11:00 pm.

Government is confident that its ministers would answer all questions that could be asked mainly for proposed expenditure for the remaining four months for this year. Except for the 10th Parliament, Estimates were always considered and approved within three or less days.

The debate has so far seen full and open contributions by both Government and Opposition speakers. No one was muzzled or silenced, in spite of spurious charges by the Opposition, which staged a walkout from the chamber at one point.