The opposition will utilize the Economic Services Committee of Parliament as well as other means to scrutinize government spending and ensure that cuts are implemented and not funded through extra-budget sources, AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan said.
Last Thursday night, Budget 2012 was approved by the National Assembly minus $20.8 billion cut by the one-seat majority opposition comprising APNU and the AFC. Both parties signalled their willingness to approve at a later date the funds now being withheld, once government addresses concerns over the allocations. Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh had presented a budget of $192.5 billion.
One of the main concerns of the opposition