AFC unhappy at budget blackout

Khemraj Ramjattan

Alliance For Change (AFC) executive Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday expressed disappointment that Government has not set a meeting to allow Opposition parties to discuss the national budget and said he would not be surprised if the Minister of Finance presents the budget at the next sitting of Parliament.

According to Ramjattan, the AFC has not had any word, formal or otherwise, on the next meeting to discuss the budget and time is quickly running out. Parliament is due to meet on March 15 to consider the fate of Financial Papers 7 and 8/2011 after a recent debate in the Commit-tee of Supply saw Financial Paper 7/2011 being approved with amendments and Financial Paper 8/2011 being rejected by the Opposition for not being in accordance with the provisions of the Fiscal Management and Account-ability Act 2003 with regard to disclosures.

Similarly, former Finance Minister under the PNC, Carl Greenidge did not