— Dr. Westford calls opposition ‘selfish,’ says Budget 2020 caters for everyone

GOVERNMENT Member of Parliament (MP) has called out the parliamentary opposition for making “ill-informed” statements about Budget 2020, which she believes presents opportunities and caters for all sections of society.

“Budget 2020, our plan for prosperity… prosperity not only for one category, but for all of us because even we, who are in this house, will benefit from it… all Guyanese will benefit,” said Dr. Westford as she made her case during day three of the Budget 2020 debates.
Drawing from the support of her colleagues, who pounded on the table in acknowledgement of her comments, Dr. Westford challenged criticisms from MPs on the opposition side of the National Assembly.
Opposition parliamentarians had argued that the budget is not people-friendly and is designed for the private sector and corporate society, as it does not offer much for public servants.

“Are the public servants a new class of aliens that have arrived in this country? Public servants are people like every other Guyanese and they will benefit from this budget… they are not a separate kettle of fish,” Dr. Westford contended.
The budget presents benefits that will be accorded to every Guyanese, including public servants, she said, adding that they will benefit equally from tax measures, scholarships and so forth.

“Why are we singling them out? All of these ill-informed statements, especially by the opposition can only be described as the ranting of persons, who are severely challenged or blinded by political motives… the reality, is that a tiger never changes stripes.
“The very honourable members who sit here and criticise the budget and speak about democracy, are the very people who, by their selfish actions, denied the citizens for five long months, the right to choose who they wanted to govern them… denied them the right to have a government of their own choice to protect their livelihood… that was democracy under attack,” said Dr. Westford.

BENEFIT FOR EVERYONE
And, after five months of stress, anguish and frustration, the people, she said, finally have a budget which caters for every sector and every facet of society.
In responding to Opposition MP, Corretta McDonald’s comment that Budget 2020 is not a working-class budget, Dr. Westford reiterated that it is a budget that will benefit everyone.

The Government MP said she found it odd that McDonald spoke about the working class and did not mention teachers, although she is the General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU).

Dr. Westford recalled the protracted struggle between teachers and the APNU+AFC administration, which concluded with the GTU making a turn which left the teachers in the proverbial cold.

She contended that former PPP/C administrations had offered better conditions of service to teachers, and this was even said by McDonald.
“It is documented that all of the PPP/C administrations have negotiated acceptable benefit packages and we promise to continue that trend with or without the meaningful participation of GTU,” said Dr. Westford.

She said teachers will never again be called greedy or selfish during their request for improved conditions of service.
This is, however, just one area of focus, as the new government plans to create programmes to benefit every section of society.
“The PPP/C has always had outstanding success with programmes designed to protect the disadvantaged… we will ensure these programmes remain effective and relevant, and review social sector programmes in consultation with civil sector, to ensure there are channels to those who need it the most,” Dr. Westford argued.