–Jagdeo lays out expectation of Budget 2017
OPPOSITION leader Bharrat Jagdeo plans to hold President David Granger to his promise of providing a better life for all Guyanese and is hoping that Budget 2017 will include measures to tackle job creation and better incomes for citizens.
For starters, the Opposition Leader is urging Government, specifically Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, to extend a one-month, tax-free bonus to public servants, since they did not receive the promised 10 per cent increase in wages and salaries.
Jagdeo, a former President, told a news conference at Freedom House on Thursday that the Disciplined Services benefited from the tax-free bonus and as such, the same should be extended to public servants.
He believes that this will be a timely boost to the economy.
“I call on him [Jordan] to do that even before the budget or to announce it at budget time. This would be a major boost to those people, but also to the economy itself because it would increase disposable incomes, spending and it will bolster economic activities,” the former President said.
Jagdeo has high hopes for Budget 2017, which is slated to be presented by Minister Jordan in the National Assembly on Monday. He is hoping that the budget will contain measures to enhance social welfare, increase public safety and improve the livelihoods of Guyanese.
“The President in his speech to the National Assembly defined the framework [for the budget] and I hope that what he said is further elaborated on in the budget and that we will see concrete, specific measures, policies, programmes and projects to give effect to those objectives that he outlined,” the Opposition Leader said.
Additionally, the former President said that he is in favour of establishing an international institute of biodiversity at Iwokrama and wants to know how the APNU+AFC Government plans to achieve its green agenda.
“The President had said Protected Areas will be established in every administrative region of Guyana, so we will would like to see the Minister of Finance, consistent with the promise of the President, he will have to tell us in the budget, what areas in the country, in all the 10 administrative regions are identified as protected areas and how much money he would put in the budget to give effect to that.”
HELD ACCOUNTABLE
Jagdeo also believes that Minister Jordan should be held accountable for the promises made by President Granger.
“If your President comes to the Parliament and says here are the things that I will put in my budget next year and the minister doesn’t do it, it means someone is duping us.”
Jagdeo also wants to see an increased number of measures aimed at giving an impetus to mining, particularly small gold miners and small and medium-scale operations.
He made it clear that his party is opposed to any adjustments in the price that Government pays for gold.
“We’re opposed to any attempt to remove concessions. We believe that the sector needs more help now, particularly, small and medium-scale miners. We want specific help for the loggers, particularly small loggers; they are facing a rough, rough time because of this inept Government policy,” the former President said.
As it relates to the ailing sugar industry, the Opposition Leader urged the Government to present a defined plan on the way forward.
During his address to the National Assembly on October 13, President Granger had noted that loggers and miners will be under a legal obligation to ensure sound environmental practices and that Government will reboot the fledgling eco-tourism sector in 2017.
Part of plans for 2017 includes initiatives for climate adaptation and a programme to bolster and better manage and maintain sea defences will be developed in collaboration with international partners.
According to the President, it will form part of the matrix of measures in the 2017 National Budget.
“We will guard, also, against the effects of flooding by strengthening our drainage systems, particularly along the coastland. We will also counter the effects of prolonged dry weather on our wildlife by establishing protective sanctuaries for them.
“Your Government will intensify its improvement of aerodromes, bridges, roads and stellings in order to enhance communication between the hinterland and coastland. We will begin negotiations with national and international parties to build a bridge across the Essequibo River in 2017. We aim at improving the pace of economic development by removing bottlenecks to the implementation of infrastructural projects. Planning units will be established within ministries. National procurement procedures will be strengthened to address the institutional deficiencies which led to poor implementation and monitoring of public infrastructural projects,” the President had noted in his last address to Parliament.
