With consultations still ongoing in an effort to identify a Minister of Finance, the PPP/C government will in the meantime utilise the skills of former President and current Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on financial matters, President Irfaan Ali announced yesterday.
“With the skillset we have at the moment in the Office of the President, with the former President there, we are hoping to move quickly with a number of programmes on a financial level, but it is an area we are still searching for potential candidates,” Ali yesterday told the press, following the appointment of the ministers of his government – except for a Minister of Finance.
“We have had discussions with many stakeholders and individuals in the formulation of this Cabinet to capture the skillset that will be required,” he added.
Asked if the person will come from outside of the list of candidates, he replied “Well we are looking.”
Probed further on if former Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh has been considered for the post, the President said, “We are looking at a lot of variables, we are still in the search mode, I cannot confirm to you any individual because we have not identified anybody as yet,” he said.
And when asked if the government had reached out to Singh, he said, “In the structure of governance and government, we have reached out to many individuals but no one in particular to finance.”
He also explained that “once the Minister is not appointed as yet, of course the President has responsibility for that sector.”
It could mean that Ali would act as the Minister in the interim and sign any necessary documents needed to ensure that government finances, economic policy and financial regulations are in accordance with the law.
The position of a Minister of Finance in Guyana is a critical one as that person is charged with oversight of the country’s monetary policies and is responsible for the crafting of the country’s annual Budgets.
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo served at the Ministry of Finance under deceased presidents Cheddi Jagan and his wife Janet Jagan. He first held the position of first Junior Minister of Finance from 1993 to 1995 and then Minister of Finance from 1995 to 1999.
