Latest update February 5th, 2025 11:03 AM
Office of Opposition Leader starved of state funding
By Abena Rockcliffe
While an Act of Parliamentary provides for an office of the Leader of the Opposition to be funded through the national coffers A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is claiming that its work is being impeded by the government’s apparent refusal to honor that obligation.
Opposition leader, David Granger, stated that it is impossible to cope with the level of work needed to be done under the present conditions.
APNU office
The Act mandates the government to provide a “rent free office” for the Opposition Leader, and security for both the provided office and the home of the Opposition Leader.
However, that provision is lacking as $1M is owed to a security firm for services offered to the Opposition Leader for the period January-June of the year. APNU officials noted that security service from the police was not authorized until June hence the need to solicit private services.
Further, reports are that even though the government has been furnished with the lease agreement only half of the monthly rental fee is being paid out of the Treasury.
An APNU official said that there have been “back and forth” correspondence but no money to clear the debt has been forthcoming.
The government’s actions seem like a deliberate attempt to stifle the work of the opposition, the Office of the Opposition Leader said.
Granger, when contacted, said that the issue is one of “high concern” to him. He said that he has been dealing with the matter through the Parliament office and he has been in constant communication with the Clerk. However, the situation still exists.
Granger confirmed that there are numerous other deficiencies at the office.
He explained that the government took the stance that it is only paying half of the rental for the building based on an agreement signed 10 years ago. The government is seemly not willing to renew that agreement.
However, even office items that were part of the agreement have not been fully provided. “We were given a small amount of necessary office supplies,” expressed Granger.
Granger said that his office forms the shadow Cabinet and is in receipt of several complaints from citizens all across Guyana. “It is becoming harder to meet the needs of citizens with the limited resources.”
Granger reiterated that several attempts were made to get the government to pay the monies owed to the security company but those were of no avail.
The leader noted that upon his election as Opposition leader, his party begun to research “appropriate premises” but found none better that the building it presently occupies.
Granger said that his team is committed to serving the people of Guyana and can’t do so effectively at the moment.
An APNU official told this newspaper that, recently, members were forced to take personal cash just to carry out duties at an interior location.
Some roles of the main opposition leader include holding the executive accountable, preparing the opposition to become an ‘alternative government’; scrutinizing and ensuring that proposed legislations are in the best interest of the people engaging the government, as specified by the Constitution, in meaningful consultations on important appointments such as Chief Justice; and adequately representing, in the National Assembly and generally, the interests and
concerns of citizens.
“How can the opposition fulfill those obligations with little or no resources?’
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