The opposition yesterday vowed that the budget presented by Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh last week will not go uncut and AFC leader, Khemraj Ramjattan warned of a “possible” no-confidence motion based on how the government treats the amendments.
Appearing on Christopher Ram’s talk-show ‘Plain Talk’, Ramjattan, APNU spokesman on finance Carl Greenidge, and AFC parliamentarian, Moses Nagamootoo were unanimous in stating that there would be cuts. “We’re gonna call their bluff and just like they’re coming with a bigger budget, we’re coming with a bigger scissors,” said Ramjattan.
Greenidge said that APNU believes that “the budget has to be amended and it will be amended” and this would depend on the reaction of government. Nagamootoo said that he does not see the budget coming out of the House unchanged.
Meantime, Ramjattan said that the opposition will have a more coordinated approach in terms of cuts. “We are going to be far more integrated in our approach this time around,” he said adding that they will work in a more orderly fashion after recalling his unhappiness at what transpired during last year’s budget. Greenidge, for his part, noted that the parties have been talking and he is quite sure that they will continue to do so amicably
“It will be amended,” said Ramjattan who added that there would be “major consequences” and “possibly (a) no confidence (motion)” based on how the government accepts the amendments.
Earlier, Nagamootoo said that the AFC would not cut expenditures that are in the national interest or for social services. “We will cut extravagance and waste” wherever it is in the budget, he said.
In rejecting a controversial ruling by Chief Justice Ian Chang that the National Assembly did not have the power to cut the 2012 budget, he said that the House has an “absolute right” to cut, amend and vary the budget and it is for the minister to accept the cuts.
Meantime, Greenidge said that the budget does not seek to address the issues that need to be addressed such as putting in place mechanisms against corruption. He also said that it was giving with one hand and taking away with the other
“This budget lacks equity, it lacks proportionality, it lacks balance. It is not meant to be a people’s budget,” declared Nagamootoo.
Meantime, Greenidge said that there are a number of inadequacies in the tax regime and said that the budget is incomplete as many aspects are left out. The effectiveness of the tax collecting regime leaves a lot to be desired, he said. In this vein, Nagamootoo said that revenue streams such as from NICIL and the GGMC have not been included in the budget. He said that revenues from those agencies make a parallel budget.
Greenidge also warned of a deficit noting that more will be spent than collected in revenue and government would have to borrow and this has implications for domestic inflation and foreign exchange earnings. According to Nagamootoo, based on the rising debt, the future generation is being saddled with more debt of $600 000 per person per year.
Meanwhile, speaking on a recent ‘Budget 2013 at a Glance’ programme aired on the National Communications Network, Finance Minister Singh said that the Opposition’s consideration of Budget 2013 must be on whether it is good for Guyana.
According to GINA, he said, “We ultimately have to be guided constantly by what is good for Guyana, and not by (wielding) our vote in parliament … the question we must constantly ask ourselves is, whether this is good for Guyana… and while I understand that the opposition have to do their bit in the political contest, I would say this, that ultimately what they say and do in parliament must be guided by the national interest, and the interest of the people of Guyana”.
“I believe that if they ask themselves that question, I believe that they would find that Budget 2013 has much that is good for Guyana and guided by that, they vote in favour of the Budget. I hope that this is the result,” he added.
