The government’s proposed spending for the year will not be supported “in total” unless the government addresses opposition concerns about infrastructural development, such as the Cheddi Jagan airport expansion and the Amaila Falls hydropower project, APNU MP Joseph Harmon declared yesterday, while saying this year’s budget is the worst ever.
Harmon yesterday opened day four of this year’s budget debate and he lashed out at both the government for the poor quality of life delivered to Guyanese and at Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh for his “uninspiring” budget.
He said that the government has been in power for over 21 years while there is no doubt that a fabulous life has been created for a small number of Guyanese, for the vast majority it is “a hard life.”
He said the minister and his team are tired and have produced an uninspiring budget this year. He told Dr. Singh that this “is your worst presentation” and he suggested, much to the amusement of his colleagues, that there must be a small voice inside of him saying, “Give it up Ashni. Find another job.”
Harmon told the House that since the 2012 budget debate, a number of proposals have been made to government but there has been no movement on the majority of measures proposed. He spoke of the rising tide of unemployment and hopelessness in Guyana.
He said that since the commencement of the 10th Parliament APNU has consistently said that public infrastructure plays an extremely pivotal role in transforming Guyana. “We have consistently said that we do not believe in the current pattern of development which sees large sums of the people’s money being spent on projects which have the appearance of providing jobs for friends of the PPP/C and benefiting only segments of our population,” he argued,
According to Harmon, certain recommendations for infrastructural development formed a component of the National Competitiveness Strategy but to date there is no evidence of these outputs. Additionally he noted that APNU has called for a national conversation on the transportation system, including roads, bridges, airstrips, airports and waterways. He also noted that last year the party repeated a call from the Chairman of the Ogle Airport Inc. calling for a comprehensive long term infrastructure development plan to support in the economy.
He said that APNU believes that public infrastructure has been wrongly prioritized, while explaining that the party believes that it must serve human development.
In relation to road and bridges, Harmon noted that out of $11.8 billion budgeted in 2012, $9.4 billion was spent, while for 2013 the full sum of $13.7 billion was not spent. “It seems clear Mr. Speaker that we either have an issue here of either poor planning or poor execution of infrastructural works. Or is it, Mr. Speaker, that there is a systematic problem in the way government spends in this sector?” he said.
He added that while bridges and roads fall under the responsibility of public works, what has been happening is that the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources are all building roads and bridges. He noted that as a result of this situation, communities get different quality of roads and bridges and contractors are allowed to get away with bad practices despite complaints from the citizenry. He said that in an APNU government, having one ministry responsible for the construction of bridges and roads will be priority.
Harmon noted that since the commencement of the 10th Parliament, government has already spent $34.3 billion on roads and bridges while for 2014 the minister has allocated a further $13.7 billion with a further allocation of $7.7 billion to the rural and hinterland communities.
He questioned how money could be set aside for the construction of the Parika to Ruby Backdam road when on March 30 there was an advertisement calling for Expressions of Interest by Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to build the same road. “Are we building one road over the other?” he questioned.
He said the government wants an allocation of $338 million for critical works to extend the life of the Demerara Harbour Bridge but time has run out on that bridge and the regular patching would not extend the life of the bridge significantly given the volume and weight of traffic on it on a daily basis.” He added that a bridge authority is needed to deal with all issues related to this bridge, while making it clear that that Winston Brassington, the National Industrial & Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) and former president Bharrat Jagdeo should be left out of the process.
In relation to the Berbice River Bridge, he said the toll needs to be addressed, while noting that a reduction last year was done to coincide with the PPP congress in Berbice. As an alternative, he called for the re-introduction of the ferry service on the Berbice River.
Harmon told the House that water transport also needs to be addressed and he pointed out that the budget does not adequately cater for this and for the many people in the hinterland who have to depend on the roadways, waterways and airstrips.
He also said that an inadequate $62 million is to be allocated for the rehabilitation of the Parika, Leguan, Wakenaam and Supenaam stellings. He suggested that money can be taken from what has been set aside for the stalled Amaila Falls project to rectify the inadequacy. He also said the $185 million proposed for works to the Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma, Kamarang and Imbaimadai airstrips was also inadequate.
