The 2023 budget debate concluded yesterday with Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh criticizing the opposition’s contribution.
“Instead of proposing alternative policies, programmes and initiatives, the APNU+AFC, during this budget, regurgitated the standard, overworked, and tried diatribe which has been subject to multiple rounds of scrutiny by Guyanese,” Singh said when closing off the general 2023 budget debate yesterday.
He contended that throughout the five-day budget debate Opposition Nembers of Parliament displayed abject incompetence which is why they were voted out of government.
Singh added that the budget contains numerous projects that will improve the lives of Guyanese – a statement Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton does not believe.
According to Norton, the people of Guyana, especially the poor, will not benefit from the projects contained in the budget as he expressed dissatisfaction at how the monies have been allocated.
He said that funds from the oil and gas industry should be spent to improve human resource capabilities. “We need to develop our human resource capabilities in all sectors,” he said.
“We have no problem with [the] GOAL (scholarship) programme but it must be structured to serve our society,” he said.
“This might be the biggest budget in terms of resource allocations. Unfortunately, the resources are badly allocated,” he said.
He added that the budget does not contain any projects to eradicate poverty. He said something is wrong if many people cannot earn a minimum wage as he called for a raise of salary.
Parliament resumes next week Monday when the budget estimates will be considered.
