– new opposition MPs propose to the House

OPPOSITION Members of Parliament (MPs) Devin Sears and Amanza Walton-Desir, as first-time debaters in the National Assembly, on Monday, criticised the 2020 Budget and made recommendations of their own for its improvement.

In Sears’ opinion, Budget 2020 does not represent the will of the people and builds on the achievements of the APNU+AFC administration. He claimed that, upon taking up office in 2015, his party brought democracy back to Guyana, embraced a green energy strategy, and put Guyana on the right path towards development.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) MP Sanjeev Datadin, who addressed the House immediately after Sears’ presentation, said not so, pointing out that in the five months following the March 2 General and Regional Elections, the world watched the breakdown of the rule of law in Guyana and the threat to its democracy at the hands of the former APNU+AFC government

Sears also told the House that there is need for matter management of the country’s resources and contended that Budget 2020 does not have much for Linden and does not cater for new investments, transformational infrastructural works, or job creation.

It must be noted that, contrary to what MP Sears stated, Budget 2020 speaks to job creation in the new, emerging, and traditional sectors. It speaks to investment in the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) for the creation of jobs; the opening up of 10,000 acres of farmland which will create 1,000 jobs and generate economic activity; the completion of the Linden Call Centre which will generate over 200 jobs; the attraction of investors in new hotels which will create service jobs; the utilisation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for job creation and strict adherence to the local content guidelines in the oil and gas sector.

Apart from his criticisms, Sears also made a number of recommendations. He said health workers in Region 10 need more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ventilators.

He called for a new water ambulance for the Demerara River and risk allowance for medical laboratory technicians and other staff of the Linden Hospital Complex. Government had earlier announced that $150M will be allocated for frontline health workers.

Sears also recommended that budgetary provisions be made for maintenance of the Takama Savannah Road which will service parts of Ibini, Calcuni, and the Lower Berbice River.

In addition, he called for a review of Region 10’s Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD); the raising of the old-age pension to half of the current minimum wage; subvention for Region 10’s Constituency Sports Associations; the rehabilitation of all airstrips; an increase in technical education and major provisions that support the creative industry.

Meanwhile, in her presentation, Walton-Desir said budget 2020 does not put enough emphasis on planning within the maritime sector and this should be considered given the anticipated growth in maritime traffic as a result of increasing offshore oil and gas activities.

The Member of Parliament put forward: “Mr. Speaker Maritime Spatial Planning must be given priority in the immediate term as there is an urgent need for a cross-cutting policy tool which will enable a strategic, coordinated and integrated approach to the management of our maritime space. We wish to strongly urge Mr. Speaker, the commissioning of a National Maritime and Port Sector Master Plan. Such a plan will serve to strengthen the international competitiveness of the maritime and port sectors; set out a plan of action for the realisation of priority projects and provide a framework for the safe, environmentally responsible management of competing interests.”