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Norton refuses to make suggestions for 2026 budget
…fears Govt. will steal, rebrand ideas
(Kaieteur News) – In light of government’s refusal to engage the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on crafting a sound fiscal plan to manage the country, coalition leader, Aubrey Norton said he will not issue any suggestions, as his ideas would be stolen and rebranded by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
During a recent APNU press conference, Norton’s position was not only applauded, but sanctioned by Member of Parliament (MP), Sharma Solomon who told reporters that the PPP is void of ideas.
APNU Leader, Aubrey Norton
“We are seeing elements of our manifesto at present in policy initiatives of the People’s Progressive Party… (it is) void of ideas, absent of any understanding of how to put together plans and policies. As such, you see no need to put out the census, and as such, you see where you have manifestos and other initiatives coming from political parties, such as the APNU, are easily adopted by the People’s progressive Party,” he said.
Norton was asked to share his ideas to address poverty, given his earlier comments on how the population remains affected. He however explained that he has made recommendations in previous budgets which he does not wish to regurgitate. Furthermore, the leader said the party’s manifesto provides a blueprint to rectify the situation.
“I don’t want to, at this stage, put out our proposals. We are going to be speaking in parliament and therefore we wouldn’t be saying now what it is we want. We’ll leave it like that.”
Kaieteur News however pressed the former opposition leader to explain the reason for withholding his suggestions since sharing his views at this juncture could benefit the people of Guyana. He nonetheless maintained that sharing his budget suggestions could mean that government would take his recommendation, and implement the policy under a new name.
“Like I’ve said to you, if they consult us, we will engage them and say to them what we need, but I’m also saying to you, I became opposition leader in 2022. My first budget was 2023. We outlined it in that. We outlined it in 2024. We outlined it in 2025. We outlined it in our manifesto,” he said about policies to address poverty.
“The government doesn’t engage, because in their opinion, they will look as though they are taking ideas from us, and I said, previously, if you were listening to me, that they would wait till it’s over, and then they will adopt what we say under a new name. Therefore, we have got to strategise on how, we release what we release,” Norton added.
He pointed out that the government was “viciously opposed” to cash transfers but later had a change of heart as the elections drew near.
To this end, he explained, “So it’s not a case you are dealing with a rational government that will compromise and cooperate, even if they agree with you, they are going to come later with a new name, a new approach for the same thing that you would have recommended. And therefore, we are well aware that just outlining it in the fashion you were suggesting, will not serve us and the people of Guyana well.”
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