Opposition’s cuts to 2014 budget will have severe effects for all – Government

Apr 21, 2014 News

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The government has lashed out at the combined opposition through a paid advertisement in yesterday’s edition of a section of the local print media, where it showed specifically how the cuts to the 2014 budget will affect all Guyanese.

While it approved the majority of provisions, the combined opposition disapproved of those programmes which it said had the potential to do significant damage to the country’s economy. The five programmes which met with firm disapproval included; the Office of the President: Programme 011 (Current) – $1,355,928,000, Office of the President: Programme 011 (Capital) -$3,846,901,000, Ministry of Finance: Programme 031 (Capital) – $22,284,231,000 and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs: Programme 161 (Current) -$1,142,500,000.
However, as it relates to the Office of the President where $5.1B was slashed, government said that the Head of State would be affected as no money would be available for security services or even to pay the salaries of the President’s Staff. Additionally, the First Lady would be unable to provide humanitarian and other assistance due to the lack of funds. It also stated that the Guyana Information Agency (GINA) and the National Communications Network (NCN) would be affected as there would be a serious loss of jobs at both ends of the state owned media entities. The Nation’s ability to prepare for disaster management and responses would also be affected.
The struggling Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST) which is responsible for being a one stop shop for investors would also be unable to carry out its mandate. The research projects of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology would also be crippled by the cuts.
The Government also noted that the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) would also be affected as its efforts to intercept cases of fuel smuggling would be stymied and the Office of the Commissioner of Information along with the Integrity Commission would also be affected from carrying out their individual functions.
Programmes slated under the Ministry of Finance Heading of which $22.3B was disapproved by the combined Opposition would also be hindered. The government noted that the Amaila Falls Hydro Project and the Cunha Canal project would be stalled and it would subsequently deny the Amerindians of certain developmental initiatives.

The Guyanese students who are not so privileged to access tertiary education and would have been able to do so through the U.G (University of Guyana ) Student loan would also be affected by this cut. The Poverty Alleviation Programme and the Basic Needs Trust Fund would be hanging in the balance.
As it relates to the $1.3B slashed from the Ministry of Health, government said that this will affect a number of projects, which include the Specialty Hospital, the Completion of the Kwakwani Hospital, Port Kaituma District Hospital Complex and Care facility at Fort Canje as well as the supply of ambulances, ATV’s, motorcycles, boats, surgical equipment and instruments for new health services.
The government stressed that this cut will lead to no health care for the Hinterland Communities, no ambulances for transporting sick and injured across the Regions, no medical interventions for various health facilities and no health care for Corriverton, Berbice.
The $6.8B slashed from the Ministry of Works will also have detrimental effects. The government said that while agencies and programmes will be affected, it will mean less revenues and taxes for the country, since investors wanting to do business in Guyana will be affected. Government said that high level conferences now being held in Georgetown will lessen and larger aircraft will be hindered from landing at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. It added that the cost of travel and link with the Guyanese in the Diaspora in the North and the South will remain high; the Civil Aviation Authority will not have enough equipment to ensure safe air travel and the safety of the hinterland airstrips will be affected as there is no money for upgrading. The funds provided by China for the modernization of the CJIA will also be affected but government has already indicated to this publication that it will move ahead with the project.
In a recent interview with this publication, A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge said that during the debates, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh was unable to provide certain details about programmes that fell under the heading of the Ministry of Finance. He said, “We felt that what the government should do is having heard the concerns and the questions laid by the Opposition, they would go back, take out the LCD request and come back with the others suitably furnished with the details we asked for and we will give favourable consideration to pass them.”

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