THIS year’s budgetary debate is quite an entertainment, especially from the opposition’s side of the house. I sat there listening attentively to the parliamentarians on the opposition’s side and wondered to myself if this is the best we can muster as members of the opposition? If that is their attempt to dissect the budget presented by the Hon. Minister Ashni Singh, then my friends, we are in deep trouble.

Which brings me to the Hon. Vinceroy Jordan’s presentation. This “engineering technician” who worked at GWI speaking about agriculture and the developmental plan the agriculture ministry has for the future and for the country is the joke of the century.

Jordan is telling the house that what is needed is a “comprehensive agriculture plan and programme” that will take into consideration every region in Guyana. But these people selectively choose not to remember when they were in office and what happened to agriculture then. Did they have a comprehensive agricultural plan? Did they cater or provide relief for small- and large-scale farmers? Did they check to see the “harsh reality on the ground” when they closed the sugar estates and sent thousands of sugar workers out of jobs? Jordan wants to talk about the “harsh reality on the ground” as if Noel Holder, the former Agriculture Minister served any purpose during his tenure. In fact, agriculture was dead; there were no plans to catapult agriculture to what it is today.

He touched on food security and mentioned the hydroponics and shadehouse projects that benefit hundreds of youths. I would like for Mister Jordan to highlight what they did for youths, particularly in the area of agriculture. He speaks of his party’s plan to extend agriculture to every region, but agriculture is already flourishing in every region. I am convinced that these people do not have anything to criticise.

The APNU+AFC government had five years to show what could be done for agriculture. It was an opportunity for them to develop the sector, but what did they do with it? Waste it! Standing in Parliament to criticise a budget that caters for every sector and sub-sector while making empty promises of what they will do if allowed to govern again, will not suffice. The people won’t be fooled twice.

Yours Sincerely,
Fawaz A. Harry