Moments after Opposition Leader Robert Corbin pilloried Budget 2010’s “lack of vision”, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh responded with a stinging attack against the opposition parties for their baseless criticisms which, he said, showed they were “out of touch with reality”.
As the finance minister wrapped up the budget debate last evening, he said that this year’s debate had not been futile since it allowed citizens to be better informed of the government’s projects, programmes and policies to develop the country. Conversely, he argued that the “opposition destroyed whatever shred of credibility they might still have remaining” by failing to acknowledge the progress taking place in the country, excessive criticisms and by failing to articulate any iota of an alternative plan to develop the country.
Responding to some of the concerns raised by members of the opposition benches during the debate, the minister addressed the issue of inclusivity on the part of the administration and pointed out that this was well demonstrated as the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) had been prepared. Singh said that even independent agencies had commended the government for the widespread consultations that it held and pointed out that the only negative highlighted was the failure of the opposition to be part of these discussions.
Speaking on the issues of accountability and transparency, the minister said these were high on the government’s agenda. He said the administration has publicised detailed sector strategies and performance indicators which served to bring greater accountability and transparency. Singh expressed his disappointment that the opposition benches had failed to make use of this data during their presentations instead of making “fanciful claims”.
Singh further criticised the opposition members for utilizing “anecdotal and spurious” studies and tables in criticizing the country’s performance.
Earlier in the evening, Corbin had quoted several statistics from the website of the World Bank including one which suggested that the country’s economy had not grown since 1992. Corbin accused Singh of “misrepresenting” the facts in his budget.
In response, Singh referred to several indices from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to showcase the progress that the country had made in recent years, including proof that the country’s economy had experienced rapid growth in comparison to several other territories.
Speaking specifically about the criticisms levelled against macro-economic predications in this year’s budget with concerns about the inadequacy of our projected growth rate, the minister urged the opposition to examine what was happening in the region.
Addressing comments about the absence of a vision in the budget, Singh bluntly rejected suggestions that the policies of the administration did not lead to job creation. The minister then passionately went about quoting several headlines in 2009 editions of the Stabroek News, which he said indicated that the country’s economy was not only attracting investors but that these investors were reaping great financial rewards. At this point, the finance minister urged that the opposition parties “raise their heads out of the proverbial sand and to stop being out of reality as they currently are.”
The minister also rebuffed arguments that the budget had “nothing new” in it and saved his most stinging criticism of the evening for the PNCR-1G.
Again referring to articles written in the Stabroek News following budget presentations in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Singh quoted from articles where civil society groups, criticized budgets presented by the then PNC administration for their several shortcomings. He noted that after one budget presentation the then opposition leader Dr Cheddi Jagan had described it as a “scud missile”
In a cheeky remark, Singh said if that is what the PNCR-1G had meant by “something new”, the PPP/C did not want to a budget like that. Singh said that the PPP/C government had been known for its continuity and sustainability and it strove towards development.
The finance minister also addressed the controversial issue of the President’s overseas trips as he spoke about prudence. He said that contrary to what was being peddled by the Alliance for Change (AFC) as the largesse of funds spent by the administration to fund overseas travel, in 2009 a total of $218 million had been spent for overseas trips for the government officials. He said in 1992 before the PPP/C assumed office, a total of $140 million had been budgeted for the travelling expenses of then government officials.
After severely criticizing the opposition parties for a little more than an hour, the finance minister ended his address on a conciliatory note urging the opposition parties to work together with the government towards “accelerating progress in Guyana”.
During his address, Corbin had labelled the budget as one which “imposes burdens” and provides “no light at the end of the proverbial tunnel of development.” He said there was no coherent plan to lift the country out of poverty. The PNCR leader argued that the government has repeatedly failed to listen to suggestions from the opposition benches; a phenomenon which he argued has stifled development and progress in the country. He also emphasised that it was the taxpayer’s money which would be funding this budget, noting that a significant part of the revenue would be derived from taxes.
Speaking about development in the hinterland area, Corbin commended the government for efforts it had made to develop the area, but he pointed out that contrary to what the administration had been saying it was the PNC which had started this development while it was in power.
Three Mondays ago Singh announced a budget of $142.8 billion, the largest in the country’s history.
