The parliamentary opposition yesterday signalled plans to proceed with cuts to the budget estimates if necessary despite a ruling yesterday that previous reductions were unconstitutional.
Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang yesterday declared that the National Assembly acted “unlawfully and unconstitutionally” by effecting cuts to the 2012 budget estimates. He also held that the Assembly’s power is limited to either giving or withholding approval to the estimates presented by the Finance Minister. (See other story on page 12.)
Both APNU and the AFC said they would challenge the decision.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who challenged the cuts in the High Court, told reporters after the decision that the Chief Justice had confirmed what he had said in an interim ruling—that the National Assembly has no power under the law to cut the estimates of expenditure presented by the Minister of Finance. He also stated that even though the Speaker has ruled that the Standing Orders empower the opposition to cut the budget, the Chief Justice has ruled that it is wrong since, “Standing Orders