Ashni Singh: budget master, ringmaster and spin master

Aug 07, 2023 News, The GHK Lall Column

---

Hard truths…

Kaieteur News – Dr. Ashni Singh, prior Guyana scholar on numbers and money, former official Guyana moneyman, current Guyana man with responsibility for money (more of it), and Guyana’s man to and from that money pit the Maldives, certainly qualifies for the Guinness Book.  He is good for worthy mention in my book: PPP Government budget master, ringmaster, taskmaster, choirmaster, and the man leading this country headlong into a disaster.  Just so nobody gets the wrong impression, I not only applaud the work of this financial architect, alongside that of the chief architect, Brother Barry, I admire his handwork depending on the flow of the day.

I could understand, and even agree with, one increase to the national debt ceiling since the PPP returned three years ago. But another one, bhai Ashni?  In case bhai Ashni looks down his nose at my presumptuousness to fraternity, I bring him down to earth: I am actually doing him a favour, and not the other way around.  He is a step up from friars Alistair and Barry. Imagine if I had declared him an enemy.  With those housekeeping loose ends eradicated, back to the budget; perhaps I should say budgets.

In 2021, bhai Ashni piloted the debt ceiling increase from $400 billion to $650 billion; a stupendous 62.5%, and that was for foreign borrowing only.  Man! The internationals must have drunk themselves under the table.  This was while the local debt rafter was raised from $150 billion to $500 billion, three times (and I lost count) increase in that baby.  I still would have kept my lip zipped, and not ask where all that money went.  This is not to forget the billions in local currency sucked out of the Oil Fund.  Here was I thinking that because the ‘lil’ oil money was locked up in a New York bank that it was safe from roving political eyes, and pawing political hands.  Jeez, the cabal of comrades and the contracting class must have been dancing on their heads.  Now, I can’t contain any longer my curiosity and criminally inclined mind.  I just have to ask: where did all that money really go?  “National development priorities” do not begin to do the trick; so, ringmaster Dr. Singh needs to put on his thinking cap, clear his head, and come up with a new cover story; a better one!

But, more on this wizardry of “national development priorities” from Guyana’s wunderkind, Dr. Singh.  First, is everything national, or is that a new synonym for individual?  Second, is “development” now a code word for self-development, as adopted by the now tongue-tied and hogtied guardians of democracy?  Some guardians those are: show them a ballot box and they go crazy; but show them a budget cashbox, and they lose sight of their security duty, and any residual insight about democracy.  Watch them as they crawl over each other to get near the multibillion-dollar action.  As for “priorities”, I recognize a good one Ashni, but what is not these days, since everything must be done now, and the money found for such right now, hence, these instances of debt ceiling calibrating?

Like I said earlier, I could stomach one debt ceiling increase.  But the roof went higher over my head, with another, the second in two and a half years.  At this rate, I wouldn’t be able to reach the pull-cord for the chandeliers; or write these love letters to brothers Ali, Ashni, and Barry.  I hope that none of them get any ideas.  This new ceiling is somewhere between $500 and $600 billion.  What is the PPP going to do with all that money?  Plus, the new money planned for the New York Oil Fund?  Plus, the other debt ceiling (a third one) that spin master Ashni was cute enough to send out a spitball.  It is in the works.  Thanks for nothing, my liege.  Two debt ceiling increases in the last 30 months, and moneyman and financial grandmaster, Dr. Ashni Singh, already talking about a third one, with the ink not even dry on the second one.  Talk about transparency, and there is the PPP Government and its choirmaster, Ashni Singh giving clear and advance notice.  Thanks, sir.  Talk about forward planning, and Dr. Singh is already on the ball.  It is a square one with eight sides, which only he can figure out how to roll, and get others to play along with him.  Leave me out of those fun and games, please.

When do these fellas stop?  What is the limit?  Where is the opposition?  Please give me a break with that one about “heated debate”.  If it was really heated, then the whole house would have been incinerated.  Cripes! Guyana has transformed into a playground and toy land for these characters straight out of Marvel Comics, or a Freddy Krueger horror story.  They think about money, and they go into a full frenzy.  The beauty is that it is other people’s money.  The Guyanese taxpayers, who else?  If this is what Dr. Ashni Singh learned in the Maldives, then I am on my way there.  Recall that old saw: put a fox to catch a fowl (or another fox).  Love it.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Kaieteur News.

 

---

---