2009 Budget – pay attention

Jan 14, 2009 Features / Columnists

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OVERVIEW:
This is the time of the year where we once again hear of the budget.  I have no doubt it will be like every previous year with titles such as “Billions more for Drainage” or “Billions more than in 2008”.   Every year, the opposition parliamentarians labour for weeks discussing the budget and at the end of the day, not even a semi-colon is changed from the PPP submission.
In other democracies, amendments are added and funding are either reduced or added in various areas of the budget.
For example in the 2007 budget, the Agriculture Minister said that the focus was on increasing competitiveness of rice and sugar.  We all know that was never achieved even though a large portion of the budget went to agriculture.
The 2008 budget for the agricultural sector indicates it to be a “maintenance budget versus a budget that outlines strategic changes in the sector to move from our traditional crops to a more diversified approach given the needs of the global market.”  The budget says the goals are to grow and build on last year’s (2007) solid achievements.  None can find any major achievements and in 2008, billions of dollars went to drainage but with no results.
We need to pay attention, the mismanagement of our precious dollars will continue again in 2009.  Let us stop this.
MORE SPENDING OF MONEY = MORE TAXES AND DEFICITS
The President and his Ministers seem proud to tell us that they will spend more money in 2009.  How we wish we could say the same right?  President Jagdeo was proud to say he will spend $3B on a new canal and that the tender is already out, even though a 2009 budget is not yet debated or passed in Parliament.
Where is the authorisation coming from to spend on new projects?  Normally in a budget cycle, one can only spend at current levels, but not allowed to start new projects until a new budget is passed.
I had recommended both to the AFC and the PNCR that they ought to come up with their own budget instead of just commenting on the PPP budget.  I am not sure they took that advice.   There is a great need for constitutional reform where we can have representatives from each district in Parliament that understands what budget is needed for their area.  This then becomes part of the National Budget and can be defended.
The fact that you will see the headlines shortly, that the PPP government plans to spend billions more, tells us that they have collected more taxes from us the citizens.   If this money was being spent on us, we may be more tolerant, but it is wasted and given to friends to build roads that break up in months, bridges that float away and drainage that is never cleaned. The more we spend the bigger our deficits become.

BUDGET FOR THE CITIZENS:
We continue to hear about GDP, but we never hear the President or his Ministers talk about improving our lives, reducing our taxes, eliminating poverty or creating programs to create jobs or free buses for our school children or the reduction of our Taxes (VAT 16%, Income Tax 33 1/3 % NIS 5.6%)

A partial budget should look like this for 2009 – 2014: Funding for
1. A major transshipment hub serving Brazil, Venezuela and the Guyanas…$_____
2. Creation of a new economy with 100,000 jobs over the next five years…$____
3. Creation of Free Trade Zones at Lethem, Georgetown, Hogg Island. $____
4. Imagine an education system second to none…
• Better Pay for our Teachers $_______
• Each school with a computer laboratory$___________
5. Imagine Guyana’s seniors being well cared for, as well as the rest of country…
• Excellent healthcare$____________
• Affordable housing$_______
• With recreational pursuits to meet ongoing needs $____
6. Visualise our youth with incredible opportunities in a nation of promise…
•   Owners of their own businesses – micro loans & Land $_____•
7. Imagine a revitalised agricultural sector that makes Guyana self-sufficient in food…
• The cultivation 5 key Non-Traditional crops $___________
• development of logistics and marketing $_______
8. Imagine inexpensive hydroelectric power at the heart of our development$_____
9. Imagine a society of entrepreneurs…
• With land available for business opportunities (Incentives $____)
• A credit facility to offer support for young companies $____
• Government contracts for small companies in public works $____
10. Imagine a flourishing democratic and civil society…
• A constitution that is fair and equitable: Reform :$___
• A Bill of Rights protecting basic human values $___
11. Creation of a National Civil Service (NCS) Ages 18-25 $_____

CONCLUSION:
Just imagine the possibilities! This is not a pipe dream. Guyana really does have the potential for every single one of these possibilities, if we only rid ourselves of our old system, old politics and old ideology. It is time to put competent leaders into office and purge our nation of power hungry politicians.
Let us make a budget for us with our money.  Until next time “Roop”.

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