President Donald Ramotar yesterday described this year’s budget, which will be read on Monday, as “a very good budget” and he called on the opposition to support it.
“I would say that I think that it is a very good budget,” he told reporters at an Office of the President press conference, although he did regret there were not enough consultations.
“I will expect the support of the opposition for our budget, that is, if they have the interest of the Guyanese people fully at heart,” Ramotar stressed.
Asked about dealing with the opposition to ensure that it is a budget that can be worked with, the president expressed surprise. “I am surprised at the question because as you know, we have always been ready… to talk with the opposition parties and you know the history of what happened last year…” he said.
His only regret was that there weren’t “more consultations…” but “most of that was already covered in the press.”
While acknowledging that there was nothing he could say to help the atmosphere, “because I think we need to have a sober atmosphere in passing this budget…, he said he did not want to “play the blame game, at least not at this point in time.”
During the past week, blame sharing on the budget talks had marred the political scene. Leader of the Opposition David Granger said on Sunday last that APNU was still open to talks with the government on the budget even though with the belief that it was pointless at the eleventh hour.
Ramotar said the “budget… will lay good foundation for further advancement of our country and lifting the quality of life of our people.” He admitted that there might be areas where there would not be total agreement. He noted too that there would be some tax measures outlined in the budget.
According to Ramotar, a study he had commission on taxation is not yet complete. “I am hoping that it will be done as fast as possible so that we can look at the tax in its totality,” he added. A tax review committee set up by Ramotar since December 2011 to examine taxation in Guyana with a view to coming up with a menu of reform measures has still not completed its work.
