Showdown looms over budget…-Ramjattan moves to cut $3.8B in spending

From left, Minister Irfaan Ali, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony  and Public Service Minister Dr Jennifer Westford at a press conference on the proposed AFC budget cuts. (GINA photo)

AFC MP Khemraj Ramjattan has proposed budget reductions of $3.824 billion from programmes under three ministries, sparking the ire of the ministers yesterday at a hastily called press conference in Parliament.

The Committee of Supply of the National Assembly today begins examination of the estimates of government spending for this year and the opposition could use its one-seat majority to effect cuts.

A notice of a Motion in Ramjattan’s name, which was circulated in the National Assembly last evening, calls for amendments to be moved in the Committee of Supply to reduce allocations for