Budget preparation… AFC writes Finance Minister on areas of interest

Dec 02, 2012 News

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has handed in proposals for the 2013 budget which reflect a reduction in the percentage of Value Added Tax (VAT), a decrease in Berbice Bridge rates, as well as a 10% raise in wages and salaries for public servants and increased old age pension.
The aforementioned requests and others were put forward to Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh via a letter from the AFC.
An AFC statement noted that the party acknowledges that it is the government’s role to prepare and propose the national budget and the party does not seek to interfere with that process. The party pointed out that as a political party with a growing constituency it seeks to ensure that the needs and interests of its constituents are not ignored in the preparation of the 2013 budget.
The party said that its propositions are based on its position that fundamental to Guyana’s development is the growth of a diversified economy capable of creating significantly better employment opportunities for the nation’s younger citizens “than currently exist.”
In the letter to Singh, the AFC noted that in keeping with national priorities and given the fact that 85 per cent of Guyana’s foreign earnings still derive from the export of the same primary products which Guyana has been relying on since its independence, almost fifty years ago, specific budgetary measures must be taken to “achieve greater economic diversification and make education spending more relevant to a school curriculum that is designed to meet the developmental needs of Guyana.”
No figures were set as amounts the party wants for either a new VAT rate or suitable fees for the Berbice Bridge. However, the party specified that it wishes to see old age pension increased to $15,000 per month.
The party also proposed that vehicle duties and taxes be decreased, with zero-taxes on all electric cars.
Further, the AFC recommended the restored subvention of Critchlow Labour College and for the Lottery and NICIL funds to be paid into the Consolidated Fund “along with monies held in all special bank accounts as recommended by the Auditor General in his 2011 report”.
It was also a request that the budget estimates be placed online.
AFC also used the correspondence to reiterate its concern with “the non-establishment of the Public Procurement Commission, the blatant misuse of State-media and the illegal activities of NICIL”. The party said that it considers these to be impediments to constructive engagement on the 2013 budget.

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Budget preparation… AFC writes Finance Minister on areas of interest

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