–Dr Singh says; draws attention to APNU+AFC’s long, well-established track record of obstructing, frustrating, derailing progress

SENIOR Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh, has called out the APNU+AFC over their historical pattern of obstructing and hindering progress within the legislative process of the National Assembly.

Following the passage of the historic $1.146 trillion budget, late Friday night, as Minister Singh was about to address the National Assembly, to table the second reading of the Fiscal Enactments Amendment Bill, APNU+AFC members walked out of the session.

“It should come as no surprise that the APNU+AFC, just as we were about to consider this Fiscal Enactments Bill, chose to leave the House in the manner that they did. Because they have a long and well established and well-documented track record of obstructing frustrating and derailing progress,” he said.

Reflecting on past confrontations, Dr. Singh recounted the “shameful episodes of parliamentary lawlessness” exhibited by APNU+AFC members, particularly during the 2021 deliberations on the NRF Act.

Opposition tactics included interrupting speeches, chanting derogatory remarks, and even an attempt to physically remove the parliamentary Mace, an act thwarted by swift intervention.
This unprecedented act was foiled by Speaker, Manzoor Nadir’s personal assistant, who held the instrument tightly as he laid on the floor of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

The Opposition had moved to the High Court to challenge the NRF Act, but it was eventually thrown out. The Opposition’s stance has not only affected legislative processes but also major national projects, Dr. Singh argued.

He cited the derailed Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, which, if not obstructed, “would today have been supplying Guyana’s national grid with 156 megawatts of affordable, clean, and renewable energy.”

Dr. Singh also addressed the controversy surrounding the adjustment of debt ceilings, clarifying that the move was not indicative of reckless borrowing but a necessary step for prudent financial management.

He contrasted the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration’s transparency with the previous coalition government’s concealment of debts and a significant signing bonus.
In his address, Dr. Singh painted a stark picture of the parliamentary divide, with the governing PPP/C members present and engaged, while the opposition benches lay empty.

“The respective presence illustrates those who are standing on the side of the Guyanese people and those who are opposed to the Guyanese people, and will only ever act in a manner inimical to the interests of the Guyanese people,” he remarked, pointing out the absence of APNU+AFC members as evidence of their disinterest in the nation’s welfare.

The minister explained the Fiscal Enactments Bill’s objective to optimise the financing mix, ensuring a balance between immediate withdrawals and long-term savings from the NRF.
He also pointed to the strategic importance of the bill, which aimed at amending the NRF Act of 2021 to facilitate the country’s oil revenues for the development of public infrastructure and social services.

“…The financing that will be mobilised, under the auspices of this bill will deliver accelerated improvement to the lives of the Guyanese. And as their customary fashion, the APNU+AFC will do everything that they possibly can to frustrate the delivery of these benefits to the Guyanese people,” Dr Singh said.

The bill was passed late Friday night after approval from the parliamentary committee without amendment.

Underscoring the need for a flexible financing strategy in his Budget 2024 presentation, Dr. Singh highlighted the government’s ambitious agenda for development.
This includes an expanded Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) and fortified social safety nets, ensuring that the revised NRF rules provide the fiscal flexibility to meet evolving economic challenges and opportunities without impeding developmental projects.

Furthermore, the bill proposes pivotal amendments to key fiscal laws, including the Income Tax Act and the Value-Added Tax Act.

These changes, such as raising the income tax threshold and eliminating VAT on essential goods, are intended to alleviate the financial burden on citizens, thereby improving their access to technology, sports, and safety equipment.

Previously, Gail Texeira, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance had criticised the opposition’s actions, questioning their commitment to Guyana’s democratic process.

Texeira had highlighted in 2022 when the Opposition walked out of the sitting just as significant reform bills were up for debate, labelling the opposition as increasingly “irrelevant.”
She accused Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton of attempting to manipulate parliamentary proceedings, particularly criticising his motion regarding a “clean voters’ list,” which she viewed as a direct attempt to sidestep constitutional protocols.

The Speaker’s dismissal of Norton’s motion as non-urgent led to the opposition’s abrupt exit, leaving vital discussions on the table.

Minister Texeira had expressed her disappointment, stating: They abdicated their responsibility to participate in lawmaking for the betterment and development of the society.”
She had pointed to a broader concern about the opposition’s willingness to engage in constructive legislative work amid Guyana’s pressing political and social issues.