-says Gov’t MP Williams

AS the budget debate continued on Wednesday, government Member of Parliament, Lee Gendre Williams, stood before the National Assembly and defended the $552.9 billion National Budget.

In rebutting comments made by several A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) members in their presentations, he emphasised that Budget 2022, which was presented under the theme, ‘Steadfast Against All Challenges, Resolute in Building Our One Guyana’ is a “a landmark for building Guyana’s future.”

Williams posited that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has presented a budget that will achieve the goals that are outlined in its manifesto.

“The People’s Progressive Party/Civic is for all Guyanese, one Guyana. Regardless of your gender, religion, ethnicity and affiliation, we are [a] one Guyana government,” he said.

Williams, in responding to the criticism coming from the opposition members, stated that the PPP/C government has already delivered on several of its manifesto promises. She referenced the increase of the school children’s cash grant and uniform allowances and old age pension since government took office.

“We the PPP/C in 2020 restored [the] school children cash grant to [15,000] per child and $4,000 [for] uniform allowance to school children and extended it to private school children. And because we care, we have increased the school children cash grant in 2022 to 25, 000 and $5,000 [for] uniform allowance and so Mr. Speaker, 30,000 per child will go directly into pockets for all Guyanese children.”

Williams stated that while in office APNU+AFC was an uncaring government and among those who suffered were pensioners.
“Opposition members on the other side are so concerned about the pensioners but Mr. Speaker less we forget that the same APNU+AFC government who is now trying to show concern increased pension for the elderly by $1,000 in 2019.”

He reminded the House that the PPP/C regime increased the old age pension to $25,000 and in 2022 it will be $28,000.
“We have already delivered to Guyanese, commitments within a short 18 months…and because we care, we will do more as stated in our 2020 to 2025 plans,” Williams added.

BENEFITS FOR ALL
Reiterating that Budget 2022 caters for all Guyanese, MP Williams stated that the budget makes way for the further development of all Guyanese, especially those who were forgotten by the APNU+AFC.

He noted that the hinterland communities have seen and will continue to benefit from major projects which will better the lives of residents.
“I want to inform the house that Amerindians development is on the move in all Amerindian villages; presidential grants have been increased by the PPP/C government.”

He noted that the sum of $999.4 million has been budgeted for the supply of water systems for several hinterland communities. He noted that several communities have already benefitted and more hinterland communities can look forward to having water supply in 2022.

“As we know, water is life. In our manifesto, the PPP/C government has planned access and [to] enhance quality water systems in the hinterland. Mr. Speaker as I speak now, Kamarang and Jawalla now enjoy the flow of water in their yard under the PPP/C government,” he said adding: “In 2022, $999.4 million is budgeted for the hinterland water supply programme which will make provision for the water supply system to be installed at Wowetta, Phillipai and Isseneru.”

MP Williams also highlighted that the 2022 budget will see works being done on several hinterland airstrips that were abandoned by the previous government.

“Air transportation is very critical in the hinterland villages especially Regions Seven and Eight where they rely on air transport for their food and medical supplies…and so as I speak, there are food items and medical supplies lying at the airport but cannot be transported due to the airstrip condition,” Williams lamented.

Further, he said: “Mr. speaker these airstrips were reported to the then Honourable Patterson as [the] subject minister but he failed to improve those airstrips. Mr. Speaker, today I want to commend the Ministry of Public Works for allocating $600M for airstrips in the hinterland communities that will improve the lives of Amerindian communities.”

Meanwhile, opposition MP Coretta McDonald, in her presentation, claimed that the budget was an “anti-poor” budget that does not cater for the lower working-class people of the country.

McDonald stated that the budget which many had hoped would aim to help the Guyanese people, was not what was presented to the National Assembly.

McDonald continuously argued that the budget was not people-centred. However, in responding to her claim and that of several other opposition MPs, Williams reiterated that the PPP/C government was doing and will continue to do more for the people of Guyana.