Latest update August 4th, 2026 12:30 AM
The Minister of Agriculture only spent 30 percent of funds he got for the Hope Canal Project in 2012
Dear Editor,
It is clear the PPP could not meet the AFC on the weekend because they needed the time to do what they are best at – propaganda. We read in the Chronicle of Lies an article captioned “Hundreds of jobs on the line …”. Such an untruth! Not one job was lost in 2012 as a result of the Budget cuts but they continue to peddle the same untruth like a broken record.
Buried in that article are some comments from the Minister who allegedly refused to recognize his signature on the Roger Khan spy-equipment documents. These comments must be answered to preserve the truth for history.
Mr. Leslie Ramsammy called the proposed budget cuts “wicked and unacceptable” but to whom? All the AFC is asking for is a full accountability on these projects. This reasoned position came about as a result of the poor performance of Mr. Ramsammy on this project in 2012. In 2012 Mr. Ramsammy asked for and got G$2 billion for this Project but barely spent 30% of those funds. Talk about competence in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture!
He comes again in 2013 and asks for G$1.4 billion on this Project but the AFC has clearly told him, “hold your horses buster, what is the financial basis for this number since your past record shows you are incapable of spend G$1.4 billion”. Show us the expenditure plan and for now we shall approve the same G$0.6 billion you spent last year. We ask the reading public, is Mr. Ramjattan and his team being unreasonable to ask the Minister who continues to under-perform, to show just reason why he needs all this extra money?
If the Minister and his team struggled to spend G$0.6 billion in 2012; how on earth can they reasonably spend 140% above what they struggled to spend in 2012?
It is clear the PPP has gone “buck wild crazy Las Vegas style” with the people’s money over the last five years by running the biggest budget deficit ever (all new loans). These actions by the PPP translates into High Officials of the PPP becoming filthy rich in a short space of time with one example being a Minister “across the river” building a pool that cost more than the house of a middle class family. How was it paid for again?
Further, the NDIA is the centre of a mega fraud that is under investigation by the Office of the Auditor General; so why in such an environment should the Parliament pour hundreds of millions into such an unaccountable organization?
Thank you AFC for weeding out the fat from the 2013 Budget.
So Mr. Ramsammy, do not be repulsed. Welcome the new dispensation and era of accountability; the dawn of the new era – not “gandnam” style but Cheddi Jagan style. The AFC demands the Official Project Documents including the Project Feasibility Study and the Progress Report to see if you have met your project milestones and have spent the people’s money in a responsible manner in 2012. When you “tighten up, we shall lighten up”, quoting Mr. Ramjattan.
Dr Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh
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