The debate on the 2024 budget estimates, presented to the National Assembly by Senior Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, has commenced.

As noted by Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, there will be the “predictable rhetoric” emanating from the opposition benches.

According to the Dr. Jagdeo, there is no evidence that the political opposition has done any analysis of the fiscal plans for the country.

“What we saw, the comment that we saw, coming from the Opposition in the past several days has been nothing new. It proves the point we have been making. We have an Opposition bereft of ideas; an Opposition that is stuck in rhetoric and destruction,” Dr. Jagdeo lamented.

So far, the Opposition MPs have not shown any indication that they have departed from that accustomed script. Their contributions to the debate have been at best sterile and devoid of any real substance or analysis.

On the other hand, those on the Government side have at their disposal facts and figures which substantiated the developmental and progressive growth trajectory in their respective sectors and the country as a whole.

There is nothing wrong in criticisms. In fact, criticisms are a necessary component of good governance. But such criticisms must be constructive and objective if they are to influence policy making and advance the governance process.

Criticisms must not be done for the sake of ‘bashing’ the administration with a view to score cheap political points or playing up to some ‘opposition’ gallery as appears to be the case among opposition MPs in the current debate.

The fact is that the Guyanese are not that easily duped by empty rhetoric and theatrical displays in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly as apparent among some Opposition parliamentarians.

In this regard, government ministers with sectoral responsibilities and other MPs on the government side of the House are doing a commendable job in support of the Budget Estimates.
Detailed examination of the sectoral allocation will be done later at the Committee of Supply level where Ministers will be required to provide justification for the several line items in their respective allocations.

This is an important aspect of parliamentary oversight of financial allocations at the sectoral level and is also an important element of an accountability framework at the legislative level.

The national budget is in effect a work plan of the government for a fiscal year and is aligned to the larger vision of the PPP/C administration to create a society in which all Guyanese enjoy a better quality of life and are provided with the opportunity to develop to the full extent of their potential.