Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman reminded Members of Parliament that while it is anticipated that the 2012 budget debates would be “lively and fiery,” they should be respectful and tolerant of each other during the process.
Delivering a statement on Tuesday at the commencement of the 2012 budget debates, Trotman urged the 65 members of the National Assembly not to fail Guyanese in ensuring that the debates are conducted with the highest quality.
“The nation is watching and waiting and over the next weeks and days will expect to see unprecedented levels of respect, decorum and tolerance,” Trotman said.
His statement came against the backdrop of concerns by government that the opposition Alliance for Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) could use their combined one-seat majority to scuttle the budget and force the country into a crisis.
He called on members to address each other with the titles they are privileged with when speaking to them as the nation has its eyes on their leaders and would expect them to lead by example.
“There are great expectations and apprehensions about this process on either side of the House and amongst the populace. In this Assembly, there is the largest concentration of representative leadership and [I] urge us all to remember this,” he stated.
He advised that the government should not approach the defence of the budget as “do or die,” but see it as its best opening position, and likewise the opposition should not see these estimates as being there to be destroyed, but rather as the framework on which much more can be added.
“The 2012 budget should not be seen as written in stone to be passed or defeated in a zero-sum winner-take all competition, but rather as “estimates” to be debated, adjusted, and finally, and hopefully, adopted. Each of you has a stake in the outcome, and, on this occasion, unlike any other, each of you has an option, and opportunity, to exercise the right to plant that stake.”
He promised to do his best to “ensure that we have a lively and fiery but not destructive debate” and stated that “my doors are open to assist with bridge-building, facilitating, and mediating if I am needed at any moment of crisis or gridlock.”
He concluded that presenting, debating and distilling the budgetary estimates was a power-sharing and inclusive mechanism and should be embraced and utilised for the nation’s benefit.
