Take for instance AFC’s Raphael Trotman’s Budget 2009 mutterings. Mr. Trotman had nothing good to say of the budget, though it was tailored against the backdrop of the global financial crisis that is now affecting many countries.

He has made it look that the vulnerable groups are not being taken care of by the government; that which we all know is totally untrue. I will by no chance say that what they are provided with is enough, but the fact remains that the government has always catered for these people, year after year. In fact, of the $36B budgeted for social services, these vulnerable groups will benefit from a significant amount, for pensions, public assistance, school uniforms, school feeding among others.

On another point that he highlighted, drainage and irrigation for last year, I believe this gentleman has turned a blind eye to what transpired at year-end. The drainage and irrigation situation was far better than what transpired when we experienced the 2005 floods, even though we were supposed to have had more rains last December. This is clearly seen as most farmers who were adversely affected have returned to the land just weeks after. Then surely the money spent must have been put to good use as water drained off quickly, with the exception of a few areas.

He, I believe should pull the wool off his eyes and make criticisms that are fair. The 2009 Budget is a good document bearing in mind what is taking place in other countries.
L. DANIELS