–cites need for urgent dialogue to address concerns

THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has signalled its intention to back other calls for a review of the National Budget for 2017.

Party General Secretary, Clement Rohee told a press conference yesterday that the PPP will be joining with the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) of the Roman Catholic Church; the Private Sector Commission (PSC); the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC); and Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) in calling on the government to either engage in dialogue before the passage of the budget, or withdraw it altogether.

The JPC in a recent statement said, “The nation is on the wrong path, part and parcel because of the Hamilton Green Pension Bill 2016; the D’Urban Park accountability scandal; the controversial rental of the pharmaceutical bond; the audit reports for partisan and personal gain; the exorbitant salary increases for ministers; the melting down of GuySuCo; the Baishanlin-gate; and the manner in which the Dr Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry was initiated and concluded.”

The Commission further said in its statement that the issues at reference constitute “a threat to reconciliation and trust” of the Guyanese public.

And according to a Stabroek News report, the PSC, GTUC and FITGU had not only cited Article 13 of the Constitution as catering for the involvement of civil society in decision making, but listed as well, a range of provisions in the 2017 Budget with which they have concerns, such as VAT, taxation on key services, and the proposed garnishing of accounts of delinquent taxpayers by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

And while the responsibility of addressing the situation comprehensively rests squarely on the shoulders of our political leaders, the organisations are calling specifically on the President and Leader of the Opposition to engage each other, and agree on a programme of healing that will relieve the nation of its pain and lead us to the promised land of trust in each other.

Rohee said yesterday that apart from the concerns raised by the JPC, the PPP is still holding strong to its call for an end to the alleged discrimination against and resuscitation of the Community Support Officers (CSO) programme; reinstatement of the water subsidy for pensioners, among other things they have continuously called for.

“The efforts made by the concerned parties are those of national unity on issues of grave concern,” Rohee said, adding:
“People are of the view that the PPP is opposing the Budget for its own interest, but we are not alone in calling for a withdrawal; the budget measures are not solely about politics, but also about the livelihood of the nation.”