Combined opposition cut of $1.1B for Amerindian Development Fund

Apr 12, 2014 News

…a brutal assault on Amerindian citizens says PPP

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) through its General Secretary Clement Rohee has described as callous, the position taken by the combined opposition to disapprove $1.1 Billion allocated by Government for Amerindian Affairs, particularly within the Amerindian Development Fund.

General Secretary of the PPP Clement Rohee

According to Rohee, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) used their combined majority in the National Assembly to “impose cuts in Budget 2014.”
It is in this context, the General Secretary of the PPP said, that his party “vehemently condemns the brutal assault perpetrated on our Amerindian citizens.” He said that the opposition’s action of cutting the entire capital budget and “denying of such crucial funds is demonstrative of the uncaring and hypocritical attitude towards our indigenous people.”
According to Rohee, only a few days ago the Leader of the Opposition, David Granger “bemoaned what he called the lack of development in the hinterland regions…Prior to that a senior member of the APNU called for municipal airports in the Hinterlands, improved provisions of services in those areas” however, “less than a week after these two very parties have joined together to deprive Amerindian brothers and sisters and other residents of the interior of these very important developmental projects.”
The allocation of $1.1B in capital expenditure is “indicative of the importance the government attaches to our Amerindian brothers and sisters,” said Rohee.
According to Rohee, the PPP “will not allow the opposition to deny the Amerindians their right to a better Guyana and will not shrug from its responsibility in continuing to implement measures to improve their livelihoods.”
APNU had in justifying the $1.1B cut from the Amerindian affairs said; that based on reports it received from Amerindian villagers, the monies being allocated were being misused. As such, they (APNU) wanted a clear plan of how the money was being spent.
Rohee however, “rubbished” the opposition’s pronouncement. “I think they should go and talk with the Amerindian people themselves to find out precisely what this money was expected to be used for and what such monies were used for in the past.”
He described the opposition’s comments as purely political. He added that the combined opposition recently cut funding for the upgrading of hinterland and coastal airstrips, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ogle aerodrome.
“This is a complete departure from what they said they wanted, with regards to hinterland development.”
This ties in with the Specialty Hospital which was disapproved by the combined opposition since everything came under one item and could not be delinked.
According to Rohee these airstrips provide a “vital mechanism for the safe and timely delivery of food, medical supplies and other goods and services to hinterland residents also for the expansion of local trade which would bolster the economy and create more jobs.”
He said that the opposition did not take into consideration that “cutting the funding of this much needed operation has denied the provision of regional and clinical health services.”
Rohee said that the AFC’s objection to the Specialty Hospital is “precipitated on the grounds of self interest of one of the senior members”.
This self interest, he said, has resulted in the region being denied funding for the purchase of ambulances as well as water and river transport services among other things.
The PPP General Secretary said that the Specialty Hospital is intended to provide specialized modern health services which only those who are financially endowed can readily afford.
“Those who lack the financial capacity have to seek these services of the Ministry of Health. It is an additional cost to the treasury and may not be timely since some patients have to be flown overseas,” said Rohee.
These challenges, he mentioned, would be mitigated with the establishment of the Specialty Hospital in Guyana and “would ensure that all Guyanese regardless of their financial status would be given the opportunity to readily access these specialized services.”
Rohee said that the benefits of such a hospital to persons internally and externally cannot be disputed.
According to Rohee the opposition’s actions can only be seen as “vindictive politics”.
The opposition should “cleanse itself of hypocritical characteristics and don’t deny Guyanese their right to continue to benefit from the projects that are envisioned for the transformation and modernization of our country.”