MEMBER of Parliament (MP) for the opposition A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, Geeta Chandan-Edmond has claimed that the tradition of consultation with the political opposition was missing in Budget 2021, even though the coalition has refused to recognise Dr Irfaan Ali as the legitimately elected President.

During the budget debate, which commenced Monday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Chandan-Edmond said: “I stand on the shoulders of those who continue to support the coalition, I stand here to represent more than half of the Guyanese population.”

Noting that the budget is expected to forecast the big picture with a clear overarching strategy to bring relief to citizens, the MP claimed that budget 2021 budget is no different from the 2020 budget.

“The nation expected measures that were relevant, targeted, and proportionate to cushion the effects of the pandemic,” she said, adding: “This budget is no different from 2020 budget.”
Chandan-Edmond said had the APNU+AFC been consulted, the budget would have been better for the people of Guyana.

The coalition has so far refused to recognise President Dr Irfaan Ali and his government as being legitimately elected. An invitation that was extended to former President David Granger to attend a meeting of former Presidents was turned down.

President Ali has always maintained that until the opposition recognises him as legitimately elected then he would not engage them.Several small parties had met with the President to make their contributions to the budget.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh had noted that the $383.1 billion budget was financed with no new taxes and Guyana’s economy is expected to grow by 20.9 per cent this year.

This, he said is following the growth of 43.5 per cent recorded in 2020, despite the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s protracted elections.

He said with the growth in the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) pegged at 20.9 per cent, the growth in the non-oil sector is pegged at 6.1 per cent. This growth, he noted will be made possible through developments primarily in the agriculture, manufacturing and mining sectors.