Jagdeo’s posture still evident in government - AFC

Jagdeo’s posture still evident in government – AFC

Jun 28, 2014 News

“Government should take immediate steps to tackle corruption in the public sector, including conducting a forensic

Vice Chairman of the AFC Moses Nagamootoo

audit of the operations of the National Investment and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), sole sourcing of drugs from New GPC and the transfer of cash balance from NICIL to the Consolidated Fund.”
This was part of the contention of Vice Chairman of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Moses Nagamootoo, as he was listing ten concerns that his party is calling on the Government to rectify.
Nagamootoo said that the Administration should immediately establish the Procurement Commission and appoint all members of the Integrity Commission.
Additionally, he outlined that there should be an immediate reduction in the toll for persons crossing the Berbice Bridge.
Nagamootoo also called on Government to set a date and hold Local Government Elections during this year. He stated that Government should appoint broad-based Boards of Directors for all state media and allow access for Opposition Parties to state media entities.
He said efforts to contain crimes need to be stepped up and broad based consensus sought on a rational Security Reform Strategy and National Development Plan.
The Vice Chairman posited that Government should “halt all illegal spending of public funds not authorized by the National Assembly and hold meaningful tripartite talks to reach agreement on Budget items on which all parties agree and support, rather than trying an illegal, unconstitutional and underhand method of spending money that has not been approved by Parliament, and coming late in the day to seek approval of monies already spent.”
He stated further that measures and programs must be implemented to stimulate job creation for unemployed youths and “address the rather hopelessness of our young people, in addition to tax reforms to reduce the impact of taxation on the already hard pressed public sector employees and their wages.”
According to Nagamootoo, since President Donald Ramotar’s ascension to office on November 28, 2011, he has “resolutely refused to carry out reform measures to tackle rampant corruption, enhance good governance and ensure transparency in public expenditure, improve security of citizens and increase public sector wages.”
He said further that the confrontational posture of his predecessor (former President Bharat Jagdeo) in discourses on public issues and reckless spending of taxpayers’ monies still continue. “The misuse of the State media continues unabated, with bombardment of Guyanese on a daily basis with lies, half-truths and personal attacks on Opposition members and Parliamentarians. The people of Guyana are fed up with this state of affairs” said Nagamootoo.