AFC does not have an independent voice – Jagdeo

May 16, 2017 News

The picture that the Alliance for Change (AFC) wants to paint that it has an independent voice in the coalition government, is far from reality.
This notion was expressed by Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press conference hosted at his office on Church Street, Georgetown yesterday.
Jagdeo told media operatives that AFC does not have an independent voice but seemingly, wants the public to think otherwise.
“I don’t see them as separate (entities), they contested the (May 2015 General) Elections on the same slate; and they subscribe to the same programmes. The AFC is trying to play a clever game, agreeing to all the policy measures that the government passes – many of them unpopular. They agreed to these measures and then come and say to people outside, well we (AFC) didn’t agree to it” Jagdeo posited.
He spoke about the imposition of the 14 percent Valued Added Tax (VAT) on private tuition in the 2017 National Budget.
After an outcry from several sections of the populace, a decision was taken by the AFC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) held on April 29 in Linden, to have government set up a body ahead of next year’s National Budget to discuss the issue.
The AFC in a release had stated: “The status of private educational institutions requires review and updating where appropriate, and calls on the Government of Guyana to set up a task force to engage this matter in advance of the presentation of the Budget 2018 estimates”.
Jagdeo is asking why the call was made by the AFC after the VAT measure was set in motion and not before.
“Why not say VAT on education is wrong. We don’t subscribe to this; you have to find another way.” Jagdeo said.
He made reference also to the AFC’s call for the scrapping of the controversial parking meter project which has been paused for a three-month period to facilitate renegotiations and additional consultations.
The AFC earlier this year said it wanted the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to suspend the implementation of the initiative after a series of protests in the Capital.
The AFC voiced its concerns over the handling of the project as it related to the lack of sufficient prior public consultation; the absence of transparency and of a competitive bidding process; the seeming lack of proper planning with regard to exemptions and the pricing and penalty structures.
“The AFC is of the view that the current arrangements do not appear to be in the best interest of the people of the city,” the AFC had stated.
The party raised its concerns through the then Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan, an AFC member.
Jagdeo again said that the AFC should have intervened prior to the rollout of the programme.
“Why did you not when the policy was being discussed say:
“I’m opposed to parking meters and we’re a member of this coalition and this had to be done transparently? Why not do that there? They want to enjoy the sweet of the coalition…and then also seem to the public that they have an independent voice in the coalition. They do not have an independent voice in the coalition,” Jagdeo argued.

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