A New and United Guyana (ANUG) yesterday launched a blistering attack on the PPP/C government, accusing it of using the “absolute power” under the current constitutional system to consolidate its control and dispensing with necessary systemic safeguards.
ANUG, which is part of the three-party list joinder that holds one seat in Parliament, also accused the government of marginalising citizens of Guyana who are not perceived to number among the party faithful and favouring those who are perceived to be supporters, while shaping statutory institutions and systems to facilitate easy access to State resources to pursue this divisive agenda.
The attack came in the wake of mounting concerns that the government will today seek to use its majority in Parliament to pass the controversial Natural Resource Fund Bill which gives it almost complete control over oil monies and their use.
ANUG, whose presidential candidate at the 2020 general elections was Ralph Ramkarran SC, says it has observed the policy of governance by the PPP/C since their return to office and also accused it of excluding any non-PPP Guyanese from access to information which would enable scrutiny of its management of the country and its resources.
It noted that the Government used their majority in Parliament to authorize an increase in the amount of money it could borrow. ANUG pointed out that the government then began to spend large sums of money on ad hoc and poorly monitored cash hand-outs and inadequately audited and poorly monitored contract awards. This expenditure, it said, could only have been funded by increased borrowing, and it is likely that borrowing was done against the Petroleum Fund.
But what was the money spent on, ANUG asked. It said that billions of dollars were given to agriculture producers and to sugar workers.
“Billions were spent in the award of contracts to party supporters. In respect of the awards of contracts, where kickbacks are easy and party loyalty can be rewarded, qualification criteria were and are being overlooked or ignored altogether. Bidding processes were and are undermined and the best bidder is not certain to be the bidder to whom the contract is awarded. The party faithful are receiving their rewards. Most recently, the Government has indicated its intention to use its majority in Parliament to amend the Petroleum legislation by removing any meaningful safeguard against its unrestricted access to the Oil Fund. The spending spree will now ramp up”, ANUG charged.
The party, which is chaired by Timothy Jonas SC said that hardships endured by those not numbered among the party faithful are equally unacceptable as is the Government’s treatment of those categories of Guyanese who traditionally fall within the ranks of Opposition supporters.
“When the nurses in Linden protested against mistreatment by (the) hospital administration, their reward was threats to deduct the protest days from their salary. When teachers’ concerns were in the spotlight, the Government did not ‘have time’ to consult the Teachers’ Union, which it deemed to be political. Most egregious was the unilateral 7% increase for public servants. This increase was not offered with an apology and expression of hope for better. (Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance) Ashni Singh was ‘pleased to announce now that your Government will be paying an across-the-board increase of seven (7) percent to public servants, teachers, members of the disciplined services, constitutional office holders, as well as government pensioners.’”
ANUG said that a clerk in the public service will therefore receive a monthly increase of five thousand dollars but “that $250,000 handouts were given gratis to sugar workers!”
It added: “The reality is that the Government sees itself to be untouchable, thanks to the equally divisive and heavy-handed governance methods of the APNU(+AFC) before 2020, and the flagrant and failed attempt by that party to rig the 2020 elections after it realized it had lost the vote. APNU has managed to reinforce every stereotype of its Burnhamite image – which alienates any independent voter and ensures party loyalty of the PPP traditionalists. Faced with criticism from its supporters about corruption, cronyism and poor governance, the PPP will simply respond: ‘Do you want those people back in power? ’”
ANUG says it is asking Guyanese to consider what it is that they want for Guyana, and how those dreams can be made reality.
“One side cannot simply ignore the wishes and views of the other side; there must be a mutually agreed accommodation. But on what terms? It is time to formulate solutions”, the party stated.
