THE curtains have come down on the deliberations of this year’s national

budget with, as anticipated, even more vicious slashing than last year by the parliamentary Opposition. This has resulted in $31.4 billion coming under the chopping block.
Of course, the victims are major national developmental projects such as the Specialty Hospital, the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport project, GPL, the Amaila Falls Hydro project and the globally lauded Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS)  programme.
What is inexplicable about the Opposition chops is that all their questions on the various projects had been adequately answered by the respective subject ministers. At least they have not said anything to the contrary.
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh reminded the House that at the highest level of the administration, a commitment was made to provide answers and documentation to the Opposition, upon request
The Finance Minister said  he isn’t quite sure what more the Government could have done, pointing out that it is difficult to answer questions if they are never asked.
However, with respect to funding for the Amaila falls project, the AFC contended that it would wait until the IDB has given its financial closure for the project before it would approve use of the money in Parliament, calling the IDB’s decision to support the project ‘anticipation’ and ‘speculation.’
AFC’s Moses Nagamootoo said that until the IDB has approved its money for the project, the AFC will not approve money for it.
Notably and correctly, the Speaker Mr. Raphael Trotman, at this point, interceded and advised that decisions in the House should not be based on “what a Board in Washington decides.”
Trotman pertinently reminded the House that Guyana’s sovereignty should be held to high accord when the National Assembly decides on a matter.
Dr Singh concurred, and reminded members representing both the AFC and APNU of their previous public support for the Hydro Electric Project, and urged the members of the House to vote likewise.
This contradictory and unpatriotic stance by the Opposition should make it clear that they are playing a ‘cat and mouse game’ and are more concerned with furthering their political agenda rather than the national interest.
Guyana has been plagued by an inadequate electricity system for decades which has contributed significantly to some of our manufacturers’ products not being competitive enough to gain a foothold on the Regional and global markets. And now that the government is making a genuine and welcome effort to resolve our electricity woes, the Opposition is procrastinating on the process.
But these cuts by the Opposition have other serious implications, apart from the socio-economic ones, as Guyana is now faced with possible legal penalties, according to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall.
Nandlall said several of the programmes and projects cut by the political Opposition are legally binding, and could attract massive penalties that would have to be paid by Government and ultimately by taxpayers. He expressed confidence in the Chief Justice, Mr. Ian Chang, making a final ruling on the legality of the budget cut case of 2012, and said that letters have been received indicating a hearing on this matter on May 8.
Parliamentary Chief Whip Gail Teixeira aptly summed up the whole scenario when she said that the Guyanese public was able to see the true nature of the combined Opposition and they had exposed their true nakedness for all to see.
Describing the budget cuts as “reprehensible, anti-national and unpatriotic”, Teixeira noted that statements by the Opposition that Government could bring back the transport budgetary allocation to Parliament for consideration was ridiculous, as it sent the wrong signal to potential investors about the security of their investments. “Ego, hatred and vitriol won over patriotism,” she declared.
The Opposition cuts have already prompted a major player in the aviation and tourism sectors to describe it as a sad day for Guyana, and that the use of the Parliament to settle political scores at this time is not in the best interest of the country’s economic and national development.
The Opposition, it would seem, is desperately attempting to fool the entire nation with their political acrobatics and gymnastics. But the Guyanese people are not stupid. They know that these cuts are meant to stall progress. And the reason for stalling progress is simple. If these projects are allowed to successfully materialise, then it is only logical to assume that the Opposition would be blown away at the next elections.
Hence, these cuts are intended to help their political survival. This anti-national and unpatriotic stance, however, would most likely come back to haunt the political Opposition as there is bound to be a boomerang effect.