Opposition Member of Parliament Priya Manickchand yesterday called on the APNU+AFC government to listen to the reactions of the people and withdraw the proposed 2017 budget, which she deemed shocking and unconscionable.
Manickchand, who served as education minister from 2011 to 2015 and is now shadow minister for the PPP/C, told the National Assembly that as the government intends to impose Value-Added Tax (VAT) on goods and services to be used by the government, the actual budgeted sum for education is $1 billion less than the $43.1 billion announced.
Excluding allocations made for the Department of Youth, Sport and Culture, Manickchand said that $11 billion was spent on education in 2016, while $12 billion was budgeted for education in 2017.
“But when they deduct the 14% VAT, we will actually be spending $766 million less than last year under current expenditure, and $382 million less under capital expenditure,” Manickchand argued, while noting that VAT would reduce education’s budget by some $1 billion.
“It is a fallacy to claim we are spending more on education. It is untrue. Because goods and services will now be taken back by the government over $1 billion will be stolen from our children, which means less schools, less services, less training for teachers,” she declared to loud heckling from the government side of the House.
“What is the point of building a fancy school if our children cannot access it? What is the point of aiming to improve mathematics grades if a mother cannot put food in her child’s lunch kit? What is the point of giving a family more disposal income if they can’t save because of the provisions of this budget?” Manickchand queried before calling out the ministers of government on their reactions to criticisms of the 2017 budget.
She told the House that political parties win hearts and minds by their policies, while noting that it was by responding to the requests of the people that they maintain power, which was their ultimate aim. This government, she argued, has responded to the concerns from the citizens with disrespect, arrogance and insensitivity.
She added that she couldn’t recall another budget that received criticism and push back from as many citizens and sectors before, with reactions ranging from anger and rage to bemusement and outright fear of what was going to happen.
“It has caused distress, worry and fear across the nation in every single sector. All the campaign promises of this administration have proved to be lies and this budget is the same, it promises the nation prosperity via taxation and that is a big fat lie,” Manickchand declared before labelling the budget a stop gap, short-term spending plan with no actual innovative ideas about growth.
“Brace yourself Guyana for what is to come,” Manickchand advised, “your quality of life will change because the government is unimaginative.”
