Two of the representatives of Indigenous peoples in the National Assembly yesterday clashed over just what the 2017 national budget would mean for their constituents.
During the debate on the proposed budget, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe told the house that the reduction of Value-Added Tax (VAT) to 14% “is nothing less than an act of compassion.”
Garrido-Lowe declared, “Mr Speaker, this alone will have a significant effect across the whole country, bringing great relief to the ordinary people of this country, who had to fetch the burden of VAT since its inception. And to the residents of the hinterland regions, this is like the fairy godfather waving his wand.”
She justified her position by arguing that while many essential items were zero-rated, transportation these items to the interior still attracted VAT.
“With the VAT decreasing to 14%, residents of Paramakatoi, Kato and Kamana in Region 8, Kamarang and Paruima in Region 7, Kokerite and Kariako in Region 1 and Aishalton and Achawib in Region 9, and all other Indigenous communities, will be paying less for much needed basic items, including shoes and clothing,” the minister stated.
She also spoke glowingly of the impact the Ministry of Telecommunications’ Smart Guyana project will have on hinterland communities. “This is revolutionary for the hinterland… the internet will absolutely transform the lives and livelihoods of our Indigenous and hinterland brothers and sisters. The pictures that come to mind are exciting; just bring to mind indigenous and hinterland young men and women in their villages’ computer hubs, designing posters, banners, magazines, newspapers and typing manuscripts for businesses overseas; and with a click the beautifully created finished product is off to Germany, London or in the Caribbean. Picture them building their own websites to market their products; designing their own labels. Needless to say, jobs will be created as never before for hinterland peoples,” she argued.
PPP/C parliamentarian Yvonne Pearson, however, was not as optimistic. The opposition Member of Parliament described VAT on utilities and other services as bringing to communities more stress to add to that which they were already dealing with.
Pearson also accused the government of presenting a piecemeal budget and charged that it was lacking in national policy. She also challenged the minister to show where in the budget the President’s 10-point plan for indigenous communities is catered for.
In response, Garrido-Lowe explained that the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) was part of the plan and has been mentioned in both the 2016 and 2017 budgets.
At this point, Pearson noted that in spite of these allocations, both HEYS facilitators and students across the country have still not been paid for months of work. “They keep touting this as a successful programme even though basic materials were not supplied in some cases and facilitators and students have still not paid for three of the six months the worked,” Pearson said.
“We don’t want lip service—we want money in our pockets, like any other Guyanese. We want real projects to create jobs. They are the government of the day, this is the responsibility of the government of the day, don’t let me hear about 23 years or 28 years,” she further declared, before calling for clearer, properly-funded developmental plans.
