House awaits speaker’s ruling on cuts

Let’s send a strong signal – PPP/C MP Anil Nandlall says (Photo by Arian Browne)

With talks between the Ramotar administration and the opposition failing to yield a budget compromise, Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman is to rule today on whether the National Assembly can reduce the government’s proposed spending estimates.

A meeting between the government and opposition at Office of the President (OP) ended in a stalemate and the scheduled start of the line by line consideration of the estimates in the Committee of Supply was delayed as the two sides were split over whether the National Assembly is authorised to make the cuts that have been proposed.

Speaker Raphael Trotman, who heard arguments from both government and opposition speakers,