Budget not about doling out aid, but providing enabling environment …. the cronies that benefit are the more than 750,000 Guyanese. – Edgehill
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Juan Edghill

BUDGET 2013 is not about doling out aid to anybody, but rather about providing an enabling environment and providing opportunities to continue to accelerate the development of the country.

altThis was the general sentiment expressed by Junior Finance Minister, Bishop Juan Edgehill, as he gave his contribution to the Budget Debate Thursday evening, and said that in all of his traversing and interactions recently, the only negative assertions he has heard emanates from the benches of the combined opposition.
The Junior Finance Minister told the House that Budget 2013 was crafted in a different era from that time when Guyana was still considered a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC), and that the ruling administration has created the financial architecture to give people the hope for realising their dreams.
People are not asking for aid, but rather for equal opportunities, and “that is what we responded to when we crafted Budget 2013.”
The nation, he said, “is moving forward, being transformed….we are not where we want to be, but certainly we are not where we used to be.”
Responding to criticisms that suggest the 2013 Budget has nothing for the people of the country; Edgehill questioned whether it is animals or people that will benefit from the several massive capital investments.
He questioned who benefits from investments in roads and schools and suggested that the investments in fact create enabling opportunities.
Responding to assertions that the budget has been crafted to benefit cronies of the administration, the Junior Finance Minister said that when the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project comes on stream, the cronies that will benefit are all of the more than 750,000 Guyanese.
He said that the project will provide a significant boost, not only for ordinary consumer that will be recipients of cheaper, cleaner renewable energy, but the manufacturing sector will also be given a significant boost.
At present, he said, the extremely high generation cost as a result of electricity hinder the local manufacturing industry to compete with imported goods.
The minister said too, “When we talk about public sector investment programmes, when we build a school, who are we building it for, not goats and sheep, but for people.”
He said too that when roads are built, the people of Guyana are the ultimate beneficiaries, and suggested also that when drugs are procured and placed at the various health facilities, it will be ultimately for the people of the country.
The minister also addressed the issue of corruption and said that it is “something that must be abhorred.”
According to the minister, the ruling administration believes corruption to be repugnant and must be “vehemently resisted.”
He said that in an attempt to ensure public accountability and transparency, measures have been put in place, such as an internal audit department within the Ministry of Finance.
“We have a code of conduct and code of ethics,” said Bishop Edgehill, and he pointed also to recent amendments to the Fiscal Management and Accountably Act.
He said too that another tier of ensuring public accountability sees the Audit Office of Guyana having a permanent presence at the Finance Ministry.
This, he says, allows for the Audit Office scrutinising public expenditure as it happens, as against after the fact.
Bishop Edgehill spoke too of the fact that there has been training of the various stakeholders involved in the public procurement systems, including bidders and evaluators.
He said too, “I can stand and report to this House, that 80 per cent of all funding that comes from the public treasury is through open tendering….and the country needs to know that.”
The minister conceded that he will not stand and paint a picture that everything is 100 percent perfect in Guyana, but he sought to impress that the ruling administration is providing the framework.
“Be careful with the pits we are digging and be careful of the stones we are throwing,” said Bishop Edgehill, as he sought to clarify what he called misconceptions surrounding the payments of old age pensions.
He said that much has been said about the issue of old age pension, much of it incorrect.
“I want to put on public record that the old age pension is a non-contributory pension…it is something that all Guyanese get,” said Edghill.
The minister moreover sought to point out that the increase that has been announced by the minister does not represent the only payment that is made to senior citizens of a pensionable age.
He said that as long as a person would have been employed in the public service that person is also entitled to a government pension, the minimum of which is $18,833.
Bishop Edgehill said too, as long as employees would have made their contributions to the National Insurance Scheme, they will receive their benefits in addition to the $12,500 that has been announced by the Finance Minister.
The multiple payments made to pensioners, coupled with the various subsidies, such as the measure announced to assist pensioners with payments with utility bills, would bring the average total monthly payments to pensioners to just over 50,000 per month, according to Edgehill.
This, he said, is on par with many of the salaries paid to many of their juniors that are currently employed in the various sectors.

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